Four years residence in the West Indies

MANIOC.org Archives dĂŠpartementales de la Guadeloupe

MANIOC.org Archives dĂŠpartementales de la Guadeloupe

MANIOC.org Archives dĂŠpartementales de la Guadeloupe

MANIOC.org Archives dĂŠpartementales de la Guadeloupe

MANIOC.org Archives dĂŠpartementales de la Guadeloupe

FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE IN THE

WEST INDIES.

BY

F. W. N. BAYLEY.

“Veritas odium parit.”

“Veritas vincit.”

LONDON : WILLIAM KIDD, 6, OLD BOND STREET. MDCCCXXX.

LONDON : CHARLES WHITTINGHAM, TOOKS COURT.

PREFACE.

Editor, in drawing out a prospectus for his periodical, remarks, that “to us the most disgusting kind of arrogance is that which pretends to have no pretensionsand he afterwards says, “We do not believe that the kingdom of Great Britain is to be gained, like the kingdom of Heaven, by excessive humility.” I am much inclined to coincide with his opinion ; and though I am aware that no work stands more in need of the generosity of the reader and the indulgence of the critic than the one now presented to the public, yet it should not go forth to that public without some claims, however lowly, upon their attention and regard; and I am sufficiently presumptuous to hope, that the deep interest and importance of some of the subjects discussed will, in some degree, make up for those errors SOME

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PREFACE.

in judgment, and that deficiency in style, which are ever liable to mark the productions of one unused to tread the winding paths of the mazy labyrinth of literature.

I therefore do not hesitate to avow that “ Four Years’ Residence in the West Indies,� amongst numerous bad qualities which I must beg the reader to pardon, pretends also to the possession of three good ones.

The first consists in its originality, in being the first work of the kind ever published in this country.

The second, in the variety of subjects it contains ; affording, or at least endeavouring to afford, something that may prove acceptable to nearly every class of readers.

The third, and most important, in its authenticity and its truth; for I can positively assert, and I would lay particular emphasis on this circumstance, that no facts are narrated but those which I have either personally witnessed or derived from the most undoubted authority.

From the commencement of the volume I have chosen a light style, because I wished to entertain the reader, and to avoid the often tedious and dry monotony of a common book of travels ; and this style I have continued to

PREFACE.

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the conclusion, except where graver themes required grave reflections. The question of Slavery, on which I have thrown a new light, is one of these; one, too, which is exciting and causing every thing connected with the West Indies to excite the greatest interest in this country. I entreat the reader to peruse with attention what I have said on this subject; and, whilst perusing, to bear in mind that it comes not from planters or the foes of planters, but from an Englishman and a lover of liberty, who has no tie, no feeling, no consideration of interest to induce him to advocate the cause of the colonies; but who, on the contrary, is prompted by humanity to plead in behalf of those measures which four years’ experience have convinced him would benefit the slave.

For the views and remarks connected with Codrington College I am indebted to a collection of ecclesiastical papers and reports, printed for private circulation by the Lord Bishop of the Leeward Islands. They would not have appeared in this work but for a reason which the reader will doubtless deem a sufficient apology, if indeed any apology were necessary. Codrington College is the only institution of the kind in the West Indies.

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PREFACE.

It is supported by the produce of several estates, and the reports in question give an account not only of the progress of the affairs of the college, but also of the management of slaves on these estates; and the reader is thus enabled to compare it with the mode of managing the negroes on other properties in the West Indies, not connected with this institution. Such are the claims which these reports have to the attention of the public; and those who do not think them of sufficient importance will do well to omit them altogether, and peruse only the tale which has been inserted to interrupt their monotony.

The information which enabled me to compile the brief original account of the Charaib war was derived from an officer who had served in St. Vincent during the period, from its commencement to its conclusion, and who had been an active participator in its dangers.

The narrative respecting the explosion of Mount Souffrière has also an equal claim to authenticity, as I obtained it from a gentleman who had been one of the principal sufferers by its fearful eruption.

It is for these historical facts and for the matter contained in the Appendix to my volume, that I claim for it a place in the library

PREFACE.

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of my reader as a BOOK OF REFERENCE. Up to the present time no one has attempted to compile a concise chronology of the several islands, taking them separately, and Captain Southey is the only person who has even produced a general history of the whole in a chronological order. I therefore hope that my endeavours to remedy this deficiency will be found successful, although, from various causes, the attempt is not so perfect as I could wish. It has cost much labor to commence the work; to complete it will require more.

The Geography and Geology, given in the Appendix, will tend to enhance my claim, and the lithographic views, which are faithful delineations of the places they are intended to illustrate, will, I trust, be also found interesting. .

And now I commit my volume to the liberal and enlightened Public; its faults, its errors, and its imperfections they will, I trust, forgive, when they consider that its author does not range himself on the list of those who seek to gain fame, honor, or emolument by their talents, but that he has written it to give his readers the latest information on deeply interesting subjects, much mistated and little understood; that its lighter parts

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PREFACE.

pretend only to amuse and entertain, not to edify or instruct; and that its graver chapters are either plain and simple narrations of incontestable truths, or contentions founded on the convincing experience of practice, and not arguments based on the futile reasoning of theory.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter

I. MY Birthday ; or, the Voyage decided II. The Departure—A Gale in the Downs III. The Voyage—The Arrival IV. The Landing V. The Town VI. The Ride—The Reception...

VII. Hospitality and Character of the Barbadians....

VIII. Society and Education.

IX. Miscellanies X. Dishonesty of the Domestic Slaves—A Negro Supper XI. Moonlight—Methodists and Militia XII. Sugar Making XIII. Negro Huts, Hospitals, and Nurseries XIV. Codrington College XV. The Deserted XVI. Codrington College XVII. Eating and Drinking XVIII. Leaving Barbados—Making St. Lucia XIX. Island of St. Lucia XX. St. Vincent—The Arrival—The Visit—The Ride XXI. Fort Charlotte XXII. Old Woman’s Point—A Ball XXIII. Kingstown—The Chain Gang XXIV. Miscellanies.

XXV. Trinidad XXVI. Miscellanies

Page

1 8 17 24 30 38 45 51 58 66 74 82 88 97 117 127 144 152 161 168 175 182 190 199 210 219

CONTENTS.

xii Chapter

XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVII. XXXVIII. XXXIX. XL. XLI. XLII. XLIII. XLIV. XLV. XLVI. XLVII. XLVIII. XLIX. L. LI. LII. LIII. LIV. LV. LVI. LVII. LVIII. LIX.

Page

227 The Charaib War 235 The Ball and Supper 242 Mount Souffrière The Charaib War 249 256 Dominica 263 Martinique 270 The Charaib War Past and Present State of the Charaibs ..... 280 Miscellanies 290 Antigua 302 Anguilla—Barbuda—Nevis and Montserrat.. 314 St. Christopher’s 326 Miscellanies 333 Leaving St. Vincent 344 Grenada—Georgetown 352 Slavery as it is—The Negro and the Peasant 364 —Question of Emancipation Lives of Estate Negroes—Africans and Creoles —Gradual Emancipation 376 Past Cruelties and Present Amelioration 384 Improved Condition of the Negroes—State of St. Domingo 393 Emancipated Slaves 401 Domestic and Town Slaves—Their Lives .... 409 Exceptions to the General Rule—Food and Clothing 416 Slaves—Days of Jubilee 426 Concluding Observations on Slavery 440 Forts and Free Africans 450 Society of Grenada—Notes on a Ball 459 Fevers and their Effects—A Ride and a River Scene 468 Cash, Characters, and the Carnival 475 Roads and Floods—Gouyave and the Grand Etang 483 Colored People 492 A Chapter of Miscellanies 501 My departure—My Voyage Home—An Incident 512 522 Earthquakes

CONTENTS.

xiii Page

Chapter

LX. Hurricanes LXI. Natural Productions of the Antilles—Soil and Climate LXII. Natural History LXIII. Many Mems. on many Matters

530 542 558 571

APPENDIX. I. The Geology and Geography of the West Indies.

II. Chronology of Jamaica, from its Discovery to the Year 1815 III. Chronology of Barbados, from A. D. 1605 to A. D. 1811 IV. Chronology of St. Vincent, from A. D. 1596 to A. D. 1812 V. Chronology of Grenada, from its Discovery to A. D. 1813 VI. Chronology of Dominica, from its Discovery to A. D. 1814 VII. Chronology of Antigua, from its Discovery to A. D. 1810 VIII. Chronology of Trinidad, from A. D. 1498 to A. D. 1815 IX. Chronology of St. Christopher’s, from A. D. 1623 to A. D. 1805 X. Chronology of Montserrat, from A. D. 1629 to A. D. 1810 Chronology of Nevis, from A. D. 1603 to A. D. XI. 1812 XII. Chronology of Tobago, from A. D. 1596 to A. D. 1812 XIII. Chronology of St. Lucia, from A. D. 1596 to A. D. 1803

593 604 622 635 641 648 659 665 669 678 681 685 689

FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE IN THE

WEST

INDIES.

CHAPTER I. MY BIRTHDAY ; OR, THE VOYAGE DECIDED.

“ This is my birthday, at this very day Shakespeare. “ Was Cassius born.” “ Let him spend his time no more at home, “ Which would be great impeachment to his age, “ In having known no travel in his youth.”

Shakespeare.

reader, I belong to a family the members of which, from my great-grandfather downwards, have always attached a vast importance to birthdays ; and even in these enlightened times, and notwithstanding the march of intellect, my relations— bearing in mind the spirit of their ancestors—are still wont to consider these annual anniversaries as very memorable epochs in their several histories, which they consider themselves bound to celebrate with GENTLE

B

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

unusual gaiety and festivity. Be not surprised, then, when I tell you, that on Michaelmas day, 1825, when I entered my eighteenth year, o,ur goodly mansion was somewhat disturbed, with the hubbub occasioned by the preparations which its inhabitants were making for the gaieties of the ensuing evening, when the members of our numerous and highly respectable family were to convene, according to custom, to join in the dance, to sing the merry song; to contribute, each according to his power, to the evening’s amusement ; in a word, to spend the hours in the mutual enjoyment of kindly intercourse, and above all, to wish to your humble servant health, happiness, and prosperity, with “many happy returns of the day.”

At length the evening arrived, and our conviviality was about to begin ; indeed I was leading my maiden aunt, Josephine, to the top of the first country dance, a dance which she preferred above all others :—tasteless soul! could she have heard the dulcet tones, and seen the fairy figures in which our young, and I may almost say, our old nobility, are wont “ to trip the light fantastic toe,” on “ Almack’s high patrician “ floor,” she might, like them, have neglected the old-fashioned country dance for the lighter and more airy figures of the all-modern quadrille : though even then, so incorrigible was my aunt’s attachment to old customs, and so small her ability for exertion, that I almost doubt whether she would have been guilty of such heresy.

Be this as it may, I had led her to the top of the

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dance, and was about to call the figure, when the well known postman’s knock was succeeded by the entrance of a servant, who handed to my father a long and gloomy looking official letter :—he opened it, and I saw immediately that it was of vast importance, for his countenance betrayed what he shortly after told us, viz. that he was ordered on foreign service, to experience once again, if I may use his own military phrase, “ la fortune de guerre.”

My father, although by no means an old man, was certainly an old soldier; for he had served during all the Peninsular war, and finally, in the great and glorious battle of Waterloo, which insured peace to Europe, restored Louis the Eighteenth to his throne, and divided, between Wellington and Blucher, the immortal fame of having overcome the ambitious despot who would fain have conquered the world.

It would be difficult for me to say whether my father was more attached to his profession, to his wife, or to his son ; however, it would seem, from his conclusions, that he loved them all alike; for he determined, by obeying orders, to embark in the service of the former ; and to avoid a separation from the two latter, he resolved that they should accompany him on his voyage to that quarter of the globe whither his government had ordered him, to be again “ Multum et terris jactatus et alto :”

this, I should have before stated, was to that part of the West Indies, commonly denominated the Leeward Islands.

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

From some unknown circumstance, my Aunt Josephine had imbibed an unaccountable prejudice against these islands. She was wont to consider them as lands, where the most disgusting tyranny, and the most barbarous cruelties were inflicted, for the purposes of gain, by unrelenting and avaricious planters, over a tame but unfortunate race of people, whose only crime was that of being discontented with their enslaved condition.

These notions had induced my well-meaning, but mistaken, relative to refrain from taking even the smallest quantity of sugar in her tea; and I verily believe that she had not tasted pie, pudding, tartlet, or any other eatable of which this ingredient composed a part, for the last twenty years of her life.

She imagined too, that dissipation, luxury, and immorality were leading features in the characters of the West Indians: and she pronounced it ruin, irrevocable ruin to a young man, to take him to places where vice, if it were not fostered and encouraged, was certainly not punished and despised.

When, therefore, she heard my father’s determination to take me with him, she appeared like one thunderstruck : indeed her astonishment was truly amusing, as was also the vehemence of her arguments against it. She began, in a style of eloquence which appeared to me altogether a novelty, to convince my father of the utter impropriety of adopting such a plan, and of following a scheme in such total nonaccordance with the principles and prejudices that had been the guides of her life.

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The talented Author of “Pelham,” in his amusing tale of “ Too handsome for any thing,” has remarked, that riches in an uncle are wonderful arguments respecting the nurture of a nephew, whose parents have nothing to leave him : I presume the same may be applied to an aunt; but, alas ! my poor relative ! she had only a competency of her own, and as my father expected nothing from her liberality, conviction appeared a difficult task.

My aunt, however, was not easily repulsed, and the excess of her volubility, with the unwearied, though not unwearying, perseverance with which she continued to repeat her arguments, convinced me that she had fully and entirely adopted the opinion of Byron, who says, “ “ “ “ “ “ “

“ A reasonable reason, If good, is none the worse for repetition; If bad, the best way’s certainly to tease on, And amplify,—you lose much by concision ; Besides, insisting in or out of season, Convinces all men, even a politician; Or what is just the same, it wearies out, So the end’s gain’d, what signifies the rout.”

But my aunt was totally unsuccessful with my inflexible father, whose prejudices were as few, as his sister’s were numerous; for it was finally settled that I should positively accompany him to the West Indies ; thereby running the risk (to use my aunt’s expression) of having my heart hardened, my taste vitiated, my morals corrupted, and my disposition spoiled, by entering into dissipated society, and by the influence of bad example.

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

My respected relative is now no more; peace to her manes. If she had many peculiarities, she had few failings; failings too more than counterbalanced by many estimable virtues. She was our neighbour, and we knew her character. She ever extended the arm of charity to the afflicted and distressed, she instructed the children of the poor, she consoled the widow and the orphan, she visited the needy with relief; by them she was received with joy, by the rich with welcome, and by all with the respect that her virtues merited.

It is but just that I should mention her good qualities as I have before related her prejudices. Had she lived, she would have seen me on my return (notwithstanding her predictions) with the same taste, the same disposition, and the same morals with which I set out; she would have seen too, that my intercourse with the world had furnished me with many interesting anecdotes; and the perusal of my memoirs would have perchance amused her aged mind, and have removed some of her prejudices concerning that race of people, whose situation elicited so much of her pity; and of whose actual state of happiness or misery she had, like many, far too many, of her countrymen, formed such wrong and mistaken ideas.

Perhaps she might even have been prevailed upon to sweeten her tea, and to indulge herself betimes with the sweetmeats I had brought her, even though they were prepared by a slave.

And now I propose giving my readers an account of my preparations for, and afterwards of my voyage

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across, the foamy and stomach-stirring Atlantic ; my arrival in a tropical climate, and the memoirs of my residence in the several islands, during the space of four years.

My readers will have a description of the towns and harbours, the mountains and vallies, the natural curiosities, and the striking scenery of these places, from one who has visited them :—they will learn the state of society from one who has mixed in it : and the state of slavery will be placed before them by one who has lived, during a long period, in the midst of slaves :—they will see things as they are ; and with both sides of the question before them, they will have an opportunity of judging for themselves.

As my object is impartiality, I shall seldom venture an opinion at all, and never without good grounds.

Perhaps it may not be amiss to state, that I neither have, nor ever have had, any interest in the West Indies, except that naturally arising from a local residence in them ; thus in describing them, I shall find safety without difficulty in keeping a middle course, for, as Ovid says, “ Medio tutissimus ibis.”

And I believe Ovid from the bottom of my soul.

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

CHAPTER II. THE DEPARTURE—A GALE IN THE DOWNS.

“ “ “ “

Away, away, the ship rides fast; On the north wind’s eagle wings Gracefully she bows her mast, And onward, onward springs.”

Casket. “ Though his bark cannot be lost, “ Yet it shall be tempest-tost.”

Shakespeare.

READER, if thou hast ever experienced the pleasures of a country life ; if thou hast ever known the enjoyments of retirement, or felt the comfort of residing at a distance from the smoke and fog of London, thou mayest fancy, perchance, our feelings on leaving our little farm to prepare for a journey to foreign lands, and to experience the turbulence of the watery element, after having enjoyed peace and quietness for the space of nine long years. From the commencement of our preparations to our departure, I felt a kind of mournful melancholy in visiting the familiar scenes around me, which I was so soon about to leave.

The fertile meadows, the rich vallies, the smooth and silvery lakes, the rippling of winding streams, the falling of cataracts, and indeed all the beauties

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of nature appear to have united to render —shire one of the loveliest counties in England : our cottage was adjacent to one of its prettiest villages ; and I could not leave such scenes without a feeling of regret.

I particularly remember one sunny afternoon, I had rambled with a friend to a very beautiful and interesting lake in the neighbourhood ; and we had sat down on its brink, beneath the welcome shade of a spreading oak, to try our success in catching some of the finny tribe that were sporting beneath its surface.

I have been, since then, in lands that were ever warmed by the splendid rays of a tropic sun ; I have seen vallies which those rays could scarcely penetrate, and mountain tops that were always enveloped in clouds; I have witnessed the grandest and the softest scenery, and yet I can remember nothing more pleasing to the mind, or more enchanting to the eye, than the scenes of that afternoon.

The conversation of my friend, the warbling of the birds,—the clouds passing over our heads, and reflected in the clear lake below ; the rich lands around us, scattered here and there with a noble’s lordly mansion, or a peasant’s lowly cot ; the beautiful little village in the distance, and the rural simplicity of the spot on which we were sitting, all combined to awaken feelings of sorrow that I was about to leave, which I could not repress. I know not if this circumstance awakened more interest in my mind ;—but I could not help exclaiming to my friend in the words of Virgil,

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

“ “ “ “ “

Tityre, tu patulæ recubans sub tegmine fagi, Silvestram tenui musam meditaris avena; Nos patriae fines et dulcia linquimus arva, Nos patriam fugimus, tu, Tityre, lentus in umbra Formosam resonare doces Amaryllida silvas.”

These had been the scenes of my childhood, and I could not leave them without a tear for the pleasures that had past, and a sigh for the woes that were to come. I suspect too that my father entered into my feelings ; for after bidding adieu to our friends, and entering the chaise that was to convey us to Gravesend, I do not believe that during the first stage of our journey, we uttered a single word.

In a short time, however, our melancholy wore away, and we recovered, by degrees, our spirits and our appetites ; the former rising to their usual height, and the latter requiring the aid of some substantial beefsteaks, to prevent our following the example of that hero of classical memory, who was wont to consume himself to allay his own hunger.

In due time we arrived at Gravesend, where the Captain of our vessel was to meet us, and took up our quarters at the best hotel. I need not dwell on a description of this place, for I presume that most of my readers are acquainted with the agreeables and disagreeables of English seaport towns : suffice it to say, that after paying sundry unnecessary guineas to our honest host of the tavern, and sundry unnecessary shillings to the officious boatmen who bore our baggage to the ship, we embarked on board the Genoese merchantman, which was to convey us to

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Barbados, over the wide expansive ocean that lies between that island and our native country.

Perhaps, however, it might be the means of saving an extra guinea or two, to some unwary traveller, if I were again to revert to the abovementioned boatmen of Gravesend, who are, without doubt, the most imposing, and pay-extorting vagabonds I ever saw.

When we first arrived, they flocked around our carriage like a swarm of bees, eagerly disputing for the honor, such was their polished expression, of conveying our baggage to the ship :—Do, your honor,” “ Shall I take it, your honor“ I’m the most careful man, your honor;” and sundry other expressions of the same nature assailed us from all quarters, until, tired and vexed with their importunities, we left the matter to be settled by the waiter, and entered the tavern to order the necessary refreshment after our journey :—in consequence of this indifference, we had shortly after the pleasing task of paying the conductors of six several boats, for their various trips to our vessel ; when our luggage, had it been properly managed, would certainly not have filled a single boat: “ tel est le monde ;” that is to say, the world in general, but more especially that part of it yclept Gravesend :—O tempora, O mores !—Oh wondrous march of avarice and cupidity !

We embarked on the morning of the 15th October ; and we had not been long on board before the master and the pilot began to issue the necessary orders for getting under weigh.

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

The Genoese was a very fine vessel ; those of my readers who have never seen a ship could hardly fancy, or form an idea of the beautiful manner in which, her bellying sails filled with a prosperous breeze, the colors at her topmast head, and the ensign gaily floating at her peak, she scudded gracefully and majestically along the silver Thames, and finally rushed into the ocean, quickening her pace with the breeze, and striding (if I may so say) through the waters of the “ vasty deep,” as if she had then, indeed, reached her proper element.

We had many passengers on board, and all but one appeared instigated by the same feelings; for they were standing on deck, straining their eyes to catch a glimpse of the well known objects on their native shores, as they receded from their view.

One who has never left his country; one who has never roamed beyond old England, nor tried his fortunes on the perilous deep, cannot certainly picture to his mind the feelings of those who gaze on the home they are leaving, withdrawing from their view; who gaze on it too, with the reflection, that it contains all they hold dear upon earth; and that they are only in a frail and brittle vessel, which the violence of the winds, or the fury of the waves, may dash into a thousand pieces, and sever, by one great and overwhelming stroke, the ties of kindred, of friendship, and of love.

Influenced by such feelings, I do not remember ever to have seen a more mournful group than the

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party on deck : long, very long, might they have continued reflecting in sober sadness, on their fate, but certain effectual qualms, and disagreeable emotions, began to warn them that it was time to retire to their births ; and the words of the song, “ Steward, hasten, “ Bring the basin,”

were loudly repeated by more than one of the suffering passengers.

The deck was soon clear of all but the crew, the cordage, and myself, with one very egregious dandy, who was the feelingless personage above mentioned, and altogether, in dress, speech, manner, and behaviour, a most complete and finished coxcomb.

We had not been long on deck together before he interrupted my reflections with the following speech: “ I perceive, Sir, that the tossing of the “ vessel affects us very differently ; it enlivens and “ makes me merry, while you are melancholy and “ sad: peut-etre vous avez laisse quelque petite “ maîtresse, and are distressed at the tender parting,” (here he smiled exquisitely); “ as for me, I am a man “ of the world, seldom troubled with accidents, and “ always bearing them with composurewhile thus speaking a huge wave, striking over the quarter-deck railing, laid him sprawling on the deck, and immersing his white pantaloons in its briny moisture, put his boasted fortitude to the test. “ I was never at sea “ before,” continued he, rising with perfect noncha-

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

lance, “ and was, therefore, not sufficiently on my “ guard ; however, I am overjoyed that I am not sea“ sick.” At this moment, the vessel, which had just risen on one of ocean’s loftiest billows, was plunging into as deep a gulf, and this sudden motion again convinced our exquisite of the fallacy of all human expectations, for the qualms of sickness forced him to repair precipitately to his cabin. I soon followed his example, though not from the same cause ; for I had retired to the loneliness of my state-room to gaze on thy image, my loved Laura, and to peruse again and again thy mournful letter of adieu.

After dinner, a meal which few of our party joined in, and none partook of very heartily, the motion of our vessel became so great, that, being landsmen, we could none of us keep the deck. Then, by way of consoling our female passengers, and allaying the tremor of their minds, the hoarse voice of our pilot proclaimed that there was every indication of a storm. “ Split my topsails,” said he, “ but we shall have “ rough work of it ; eh, Captain ? Black clouds “ over the land yonder. I sha’nt be surprised if we “ spring a mast, or carry away a yard or two. Hol“ la, there, you fellows in the forecastle, up the “ rattlings, and take a reef in the fore top-sail.”

These expressions were answered by a scream in concert from the ladies, with some alleviating words from the captain, who was really a gentlemanly man. “ Dang it, ladies,” said the pilot, “ don’t be afeared “ now ; I didn’t mean to frighten ye, only I thought

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“ it might be as well to tell the truth; and, besides, “ if we be all sent to Davy Jones, I trust we are good “ protestantshere he winked at the captain, and cast a significant look at an old gentleman, sitting in the corner of the cabin, who was a rigid catholic, “ how“ ever, thank God,” said he, addressing himself to a gentleman who happened to be a clergyman, “ thank “ God, there are no parsons on board ; so it is to be “ hoped we shall all get on safeand then, swallowing a tolerable jorum of brandy toddy, he repaired to the deck, where his thundering voice was quickly heard, commanding more reefs to be taken in the topsails ; thereby confirming in the minds of the passengers, that the weather was indeed growing bad.

The night began to grow pitchy dark, and the many vessels that were before seen around us, were now, from that cause, becoming invisible. The rain and hail poured in torrents ; the howling of the wind was frightful and terrific; fearful and loud was the roaring of the giant waves. The ship now riding on the lofty billows, threatened to touch the black masses of vapour that were bursting over our heads; and then, descending into the yawning gulf below, it seemed as if it would never rise again from the midst of the mighty waters that were foaming around it.

Reader, thou mayest have been in a gale, but thou canst hardly fancy such a storm as this ; neither canst thou altogether form an idea of the feelings and fears of those who had never been at sea before,

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

when the dead-lights were shipped in the cabin windows ; their fears, however, could hardly exceed their danger, which was truly great.

We had been obliged to anchor our vessel in the Downs ; but we had not been long in this position, before our alarm was excited by a sudden crash : one of our cables had snapped, and we were shortly forced to cut the other, to avoid being run down by an East India ship, which, in the gloomy darkness of the night, had come upon us unawares, and we were only warned of its approach by the shouts of its crew, and by the faint lights which now and then glimmered on its deck.

We remained beating about the Downs, at the mercy of the wind and waves, during the rest of the night, and at the dawn of day succeeded, with difficulty, in making the harbour of Portsmouth ; where we will leave our indulgent readers, to take a cup of coffee, and some hot rolls, for our breakfast, as they come fresh from the land.

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CHAPTER III. THE VOYAGE. — THE ARRIVAL.

“ The skies were bright, the seas were calm, “ We ran before the wind.”

Rev. H. Milman. “ And, oh ! it was with raptures such as these “ That I first hail'd the sight of Carlisle Bay.”

F. W. N. Bayley.

had we time to procure fresh anchors, with several other necessaries, at Portsmouth, before a prosperous breeze sprung up from the land; and our vessel was shortly again under full sail.

We soon left the land behind us; and, towards evening, the extreme point of Land’s End was scarcely visible.

I now felt that I had, indeed, left Old England, perhaps for ever, and certainly without a prospect of seeing it again for a long period : this to me was worse than the qualms of sickness, or even than the tempestuous weather we had so lately experienced.

We had now, however, a glorious breeze, and our ship was carrying on before it, at the rate of ten knots an hour ; we had nothing to alarm, and a great deal to make us hungry.

The qualms of sickness being over, our passengers C SCARCELY

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became tolerable sailors : the ladies managed to get on deck ; and when the vessel was steady enough, the gentlemen amused themselves alternately with chess and backgammon : in short, we all eat, drank, talked, and slept as well as Christians with good consciences usually do.

My slumbers were peaceful, and my dreams sweet; the former composed my mind, and the latter continually presented before it the angelic image of my best loved Laura. Not so our exquisite, who slept in the adjoining berth; soundly, indeed, did he sleep, and loudly did he snore, but not peacefully forsooth.

One night his slumber was deeper than usual, and so was mine. I was awakened, however, and like the other passengers, somewhat alarmed, by loud and repeated cries of “ Help, help, for God’s sake, help; “ I shall be drowned, I shall be drowned!” We rushed to the berth of the dandy, whence these cries appeared to proceed; and, lo ! there lay our exquisite!

— Verily, verily, I say unto thee, gentle reader, thou canst form no idea of the agony depicted on his countenance, whilst thus roaring for assistance. Our presence somewhat shamed him, and, at all events, immediately quieted his fears. He told us, that he had been dreaming horrid dreams, of storm, dangers, wreck, drowning, &c. and whilst actually fancying he was sinking, a wave,—oh, such a wave ! — had dashed in upon him from the port, and awakened him to the painful conviction that all he had been dreaming was reality. He concluded with many

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apologies for disturbing us; and then, quietly turning his head on his well wetted pillow, again sought the influence of Somnus, regardless of the jokes and laughter in which we were indulging at his expense.

The next morning, during breakfast, a cry from the top mast head announced to us that we were off Madeira : however, it appeared only like a cloud in the distance, and we passed it without approaching nearer.

Prosperous gales continued to waft us on our voyage, without any event happening to us, except our, now and then, falling in with a lonely sail, which never came near enough to speak us.

We were now fast approaching the tropic, and our captain took an opportunity of informing us, that the mates, cooks, carpenters, stewards, boatswains, boys, and sailors of the good ship Genoese, were bound by especial contract to obey the commands of a certain powerful sea deity, who usually visited them in these parts, known in schools, colleges, and seminaries of classical education, by the name of Neptune; who commonly insisted that they should shave, raze, scrape, cleanse, and wash all persons on board, ladies excepted, who had not before crossed the tropic : he moreover added, that the process of shaving would be carried on with an iron hoop, of superior strength, and sharply edged ; and that a mixture would be applied to the chin of each novice; not, indeed, of the superior and highly scented palm or Windsor, with which the good natured barbers of our handsome

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metropolis are wont to shave the downy beards of their gentle customers, but with pitch, tar, grease, and sundry other savory ingredients, duly stirred in bilge-water, till they attained the consistency of that luscious paste commonly known by the denomination of hasty-pudding.

This consolatory information induced us to resolve on keeping within the limited bounds of our after cabin, until we should have passed the dreaded tropic : but alas ! how vain are the resolves of mortality!

— the following morning, as we had just finished breakfast, we heard, through a speaking trumpet, the cry of Genoese ahoy ! and imagining that it proceeded from some vessel speaking us, we rushed in a moment upon deck ; the dandy first, the passengers afterwards, and, last and latest of the throng, your humble servant.

Ah! reader, reader, if thou couldst have seen our disappointment, thy tender heart would have been touched, and the tears of dewy pity would have trickled, in pearly drops, adown thy compassionate cheeks.—Alas ! we saw no sail ! but the stern countenance of the watery god, seated on the capstan, with his trident by his side, and his faithful servants around him, was the first object that met our view.

His godship now gave the boatswain a familiar wink and nod, whereupon he, with two of his comrades, seized first on our exquisite, and placing him in the midst of a barrel, half full of the mixture before mentioned, began to lather his eyes, nose, mouth, and

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chin, in a truly comical manner : it happened to be his birth-day, and he had sported, in celebration thereof, a pair of his finest pantaloons, and a coat which he declared was made by the first tailor in Bond Street. Ah me ! ah me ! I ween our risible muscles were not proof against his predicament, even though we feared the same fate for ourselves. The inflexible god now ordered him to be shaved, and hereat the iron hoop was drawn roughly up and down his face : it was next time to wash, and accordingly a torrent of water, from some twenty or thirty buckets, showered by the sailors, from the yard arm, completed the process ; and it being announced, through a speaking trumpet at the mast head, that we had crossed the tropic, Neptune very graciously excused the rest of the passengers, on their paying a trifle to his men, and left our vessel for the purpose of boarding a sail, which his godship descried at some distance astern of us.

A fine breeze now springing up, more sail was set upon the ship ; and the captain declared that, if it continued, we should soon reach Barbados.

The men repaired to their work, the exquisite to his berth, the cook to the forecastle, and the passengers joined the ladies in the cabin below, to entertain them, by relating the occurrences of the morning, and finally, to digest the said occurrences with a substantial luncheon of biscuit and salt beef.

Our prosperous breeze did not long continue, but subsided into a calm, which lasted two days; during

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this time, the sea was perfectly beautiful; not a cloud in the clear blue sky, not a wave to disturb the surface of the azure main, and nothing to be seen between us and the horizon, but now and then a sea-gull darting into the water, or a shoal of fish sporting in the bright rays of the sun.

There were several sharks around our vessel, one of which was at least eleven feet in length : this the sailors succeeded in striking with the grainge (a three pronged instrument, with a long handle, resembling a trident), and with a rope, which they tied round its body with a slip knot, they hauled it up into the vessel, where they skinned it, and cut it up.

I was surprised to see the men running to claim each his share of the fish ; and I asked one of them what he wanted with it: he told me it was very fine eating; and after frying it very nicely in butter, and well peppering it, he brought me a bit to taste : I did so, and I can assure my readers that it was not bad.

They made me a present of the jawbone and the heart, the latter of which I preserved in some high wines.

After this nothing more happened to detain us on our voyage, and we speedily approached Barbados; as we advanced, a small kind of *bird, somewhat resembling a swallow, would frequently perch on our ship, and it was called by the sailors, one of mother * It is by some people superstitiously imagined, that these birds are the spirits of deceased mariners who have been drowned or wrecked.

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Carey’s chickens. We now saw daily proofs of being near the end of our voyage, such as flying fish sporting about our ship, and so forth : on one occasion, about twenty flew upon the deck, and were caught by the sailors; the cook understood how to dress them, and they made a fine breakfast for the ladies, who had not tasted fresh fish before, during the whole passage.

Three days after this, about noon, we saw Barbados on our lee bow, and made all sail to endeavour, if possible, to land before evening; for after a wearying voyage of thirty five days, with one unvaried scene of sky and wave continually before us, we felt the anxiety natural to landsmen, to tread once again on “ terra firma.”—And now, gentle reader, “ adieu jusqu’au revoir.”

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CHAPTER IV. THE LANDING.

“ I land with luckless omens”—.

Dryden's Æneid. “ Into whatever city or town ye enter, inquire who in it is “ worthy, and there abide.”

Matthew.

mere circumstance of being safely at the end of a long journey, and of having escaped the perils and dangers of the sea, creates in the mind a greater degree of pleasure in approaching Barbados, than the actual appearance of the island might in reality deserve. The scenery, being altogether unlike any thing we see in Europe, is novel, and novelty is always charming: nevertheless, the approach to Barbados presents nothing to equal the grandeur and sublimity which mark out the beautiful little islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, as preeminent in the cluster to which they belong.

I do not from this, however, wish my readers to infer that it has no beauties ; on the contrary, it has very many; only, to appreciate them duly, we must lay comparison aside :—but more of this hereafter.

It was five o’clock in the evening when our vessel made Carlisle Bay ; and on entering it, was surTHE

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rounded by about a dozen boats:—one from the Frigate, to inquire for letters and news;—one, as usual, from the Customs, for our papers :—and one from the Commercial Rooms, to learn our name and the length of our passage : the rest were chiefly canoes and fishing boats, manned by natives of divers kinds and colours, who brought fish, milk, yams, taniers, plantains, pomegranates, pine-apples, and other island luxuries to dispose of to the crew.

As this was the first time our captain had taken a vessel to Barbados, he made a signal for a pilot; and accordingly a black man, professing himself to be such, came on board. He was an African of ferocious aspect, and certainly not formed to create a very favorable opinion of his race in the minds of those who saw him.

He took possession of the vessel, with as much importance as if he had been a fine, rough, old English seaman bearing up Channel :— “ Vell, captain,” said he, “ so you have had a fine “ passage : I hope de ladies below are vell; if you “ hab no jection I vill drink deir health.” Accordingly he had a glass of grog given him, and then turned to work :—“ What de debil are you at dere “ in de fore top ?—Com down dere; I vant to put “ about; don’t you see de vind blow ?” and then turning to the man at the helm; “ Vy you no teer “ teady ? Got tarn you, Sir,—vy you no teer teady, I “ say ?”

On hearing these expressions, I said to a Negro, to

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whom I was paying three halfpence for a pine-apple, —“ Is that fellow free?” “ No massa,” was the reply; and on inquiry, I have since learnt that he belongs to a gentleman in the country, to whom he pays eight dollars a month, out of about five and twenty, which he contrives to earn by fishing and piloting, and lives like a prince on the rest. This was the first instance I saw of the hardships of slavery !

It was seven o’clock when we anchored, and eight before we were able to land : then, however, we were ready for that purpose; and the captain took us into the boat, and pulled off to the shore. I mean that little word us, to comprise a worthy Commissary, with his wife and child, the very egregious dandy before told of, and the humble author of this memoir :—my Father, and the rest of the passengers preferred landing the next morning.

Never do I recollect a more gloomy scene, than that which presented itself, when our boat pulled up alongside the Carenage, and we rested our weary feet on the dry land of Barbados.

Every thing was against us :—the night was dark, and the Negroes who received us on the strand were as dark as the night itself. Not a white face was to be seen ; but a vast number of gloomy visages, black and mulatto, and mulatto and black, were grinning all around us. At last, a good-natured looking fellow, seeing that we were strangers, addressed the captain, and offered to take us to an hotel. We accepted the offer, for we had no other resource. I,

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indeed, had letters of introduction to the principal persons in the island; but, even if I had known their residence, night was not the time to present them.

Our guide led us to the hotel kept by Betsy Austin, where we were at first graciously received:—good accommodations were shown us, and we agreed with the hostess to pay five dollars (1l. 1s. 8d. sterling) a day, each person, for board and lodging, until we should have homes of our own.

Exorbitant as these terms were, we did not object to them; and Betsy was excessively civil and attentive, until she discovered that the gentleman, who with his wife and child formed part of our party, was an officer of the Commissariat. The fact of the matter is (as I have since learned), that Betsy had vowed vengeance against that Department, for patronising an hotel that was, in every respect, infinitely better and more respectable than her own. And “ thereby hangs a tale,” with which my readers shall be made acquainted at some future period.

She, however, refused to entertain the Commissary any longer; and would not allow her minions to attend his lady with even the slightest refreshment: they were in a nice predicament, but “ A friend in need “ Is a friend indeed ;”

and so it proved with your humble servant, who, with the assistance of a guide, conducted them to another tavern, which was the respectable one above mentioned : thither we were accompanied by the

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dandy, who, I verily believe, was so truly intimidated with the huge corporation and abusive language of Betsy Austin, that he would not have remained with her alone, to preserve any thing less than his valuable life.

Be this as it may, we proceeded to the tavern kept by an old fat, black woman, well stricken in years, who commonly goes by the denomination of Sabina Brade, although her slaves, bred in the school of politeness and courtesy, are wont to call her Miss Sabina.

Here we procured refreshments; and after an hour’s conversation on the miseries of our first reception, we retired to very comfortable apartments, to enjoy therein a still more comfortable sleep.

I must not omit to recount an instance of shrewdness in the servant who conducted me to my room, in guessing at the profession of our dandy, whose manners, I suppose, somewhat amused her : before pointing out my apartment, she archly inquired,— “ Dat tight buckra, he one play actor—no?” and a very incredulous smile was the only answer I received to my assurances of the contrary.

In the morning our party assembled to breakfast; after which meal I again repaired on board our vessel, and now beheld all the beauties of the island, which the darkness of the preceding evening had concealed from my view.

The town, as seen from the Bay, appears of considerable extent; and the beautiful little clusters of

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palm and cocoa-nut trees, which are seen, ever and anon, rising amongst the houses, give it a very pretty and interesting appearance. The harbour, too, is one scene of life and bustle :—a little fleet lying in the bay, and a frigate with its lofty masts o’ertopping those of the surrounding ships, and waving its long pennant in the sunbright air :—vessels lately arrived, with all their colours flying; and one or two under full sail, tacking about the mouth of the harbour, and endeavouring to make good their entrance :—boats too, “ in number numberlessand sloops, and schooners, and canoes :—mingled sounds—the hallooing of sailors, the clanging of cable chains, the rattling of cordage, and the merry song of the watermen, as they towed immense flats, laden with sugar, to the ships that were to take them in.

The country too, for it was in the time of crop, was in itself pretty ; but being without mountain or valley to interrupt the sameness of the scene, it presented no variety.

Our ship had warped further in, and dropped anchor near the Carenage, consequently we were enabled to land our baggage without difficulty; and by mid-day, I should say, we were comfortably settled in our hotel.

The first week after my arrival I spent in ascertaining the extent of Bridgetown, with the number of its inhabitants ; and these, with every thing else therein contained, that is any way worthy of notice, my readers shall have an account of in the next chapter.

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CHAPTER. V. THE TOWN.

“ He led us through fair streets.”

Bacon. “ It is a right good town.”

Shakespeare.

which in many points resembles an English town, more than the principal towns in the other Leeward Islands, is the capital of Barbados, and is about two miles long, although its breadth does not exceed half a mile. The mere fact of its containing twenty thousand people, will lead my readers to infer that the houses are well stocked with inhabitants. These, for the most part, are irregularly built, without any regard to order, or the slightest attention to the rules of architecture. This is a general rule, but like all others, not without some exceptions; as there are one or two streets which undoubtedly present a neater and more pleasing appearance than the rest. Among these we may rank the Square, in the centre of which, surrounded by iron rails, is a tolerably good statue of the immortal Nelson, on which the Barbadians pride themselves not a little.

Bridgetown, besides the Cathedral, contains another church, which has been lately erected, and which is BRIDGETOWN,

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certainly superior in taste and elegance to the former.

Indeed, the Cathedral, although a large, capacious, and very convenient building, by no means possesses any exterior attractions, but is rather in accordance with the other buildings of the town.

The houses, generally speaking, are of wood, supported by pillars of brick or stone, and have commonly covered balconies in front. The inhabitants live and sleep on what in England is called the first floor; and their dwellings seldom extend higher.

The lower apartments are chiefly store and servants’ rooms; and the kitchen is always, with the rest of the outhouses, away from the house.

The merchants in town, generally speaking, keep stores (by no means resembling our English shops), where articles of almost every description may be bought. I think, in this instance, I may compare them to our chandlers’ shops, only they are on a much larger scale, and have no show in the windows ; they also commonly contain a counting house, with one or two clerks, and were it not for the retailing of articles, would have all the air of an English merchant’s store. The proprietors are generally wealthy, always respectable, and very often gentlemen who mix in society, and have estates in the country.

In Jew Street, however, there are many actual shops, with a great display of articles, chiefly for ladies, such as dresses, jewellery, lace, bonnets, caps, &c. These are, for the most part, kept by Jews, and, in consequence of the great demand for these articles, thrive extremely well.

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I may here remark, and it is an extraordinary fact, that no colony, at least no British colony, in the West Indies, contains shops or stores that have their own peculiar sale of articles. There are no hatters, no linendrapers, no cheesemongers; all sell the same things, and consequently all may be said to be in opposition to each other. There are indeed ironmongers, tailors, and shoemakers, who keep to their own particular line of business; yet these persons have not the entire monopoly of the articles which they sell, because the merchants, whose stores contain salt-fish, hams, cheeses, and tongues, also dispose of ironmongery, clothes, and shoes. I think this arrangement, or rather want of arrangement, is a source of disadvantage to all parties.

The doctors’ shops in the Square are a good imitation of our London ones, and when lit up present a pretty appearance. One unfortunate race of tradesmen appear to have been expelled, as if by common consent, from our colonies; and I think I am not saying much either for the good taste or literary reputation of their inhabitants, when I declare, that I never yet could find (and Heaven knows how I have searched and ransacked their goodly streets) a single bookseller’s shop: and I think I may venture to say, that there are only two stores in the great capital of the ipse dixit Little England, that contain for sale any thing in the shape of a volume, beyond “ Vyse’s New London Spelling Book,” or “ Murray’s English Grammar.”

The lower class of stores in Bridgetown are those

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kept by the hucksters. These persons, who are, for the most part, black or mulatto, gain their livelihood by purchasing their articles at the public sales, or of the large merchants, and retailing them to the Negroes, with a reasonable profit.

There are several hotels in Bridgetown; but so many and various are the opinions that have been given respecting the good nature, good dinners, good wines, and good qualities of their several hostesses, that, for fear of misleading my readers on the one hand, and of giving offence to the said gentle dames on the other, I shall refrain from deciding which is the best. I must, however, except Betsy Austins tavern from this number; her behaviour to the worthy Commissary totally excluding her from any right to my indulgence. Alas ! poor Betsy! she is quite out of my good graces. The tale concerning her angry deportment to the Commissary was intended to be postponed, but the fact is, “ murder will out,” and my readers may as well have it at once. A certain unpoetical friend of mine has put it into verse that would bear correction, but its brevity must excuse it: “ Ere I proceed in this my tale began, “ ’Tis meet that I should tell the reason why “ She hated that department :—The bold man “ Who roused to deadly wrath her spirit high, “ A commissary was, who went, like us, “ To take his quarters up at her hotel; “ But when to him, as she had been to us, “ She grew more impudent than I can tell, He not being able to endure the fuss, D

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“ Unceremonious, laid her on his knee, “ And slapp’d resounding slaps, one, two, and three.” “ My First Landing in a Colony .”

So much for Miss Betsy, under whose roof and direction I would advise none of my readers to place themselves, unless they are, as the poet has it, “ By dire necessity compell’d to go.”

The public buildings in Bridgetown are many of them excellent. The house in town allotted to the commander of the forces, and the Government House, about half a mile distant, are both good. The quarters in Cullamore Rock Road, belonging to the quarter master general, are superb; and the Episcopal Palace, a little farther on, called Gibraltar Rock, is, in every respect, a very comfortable and convenient mansion, with a proportionate quantity of well cultivated garden ground adjoining it. I went all over this mansion of my Lord Bishop’s, and found it, for its cool and airy situation, for the comfort of its apartments, and for the splendid manner in which it was furnished, a residence that might satisfy the desires of any moderate man, and altogether fit for a bishop.

There is a large and commodious Commissariat Office in the Square; but the other government offices are, for the most part, situated in or near the Garrison of St. Ann’s, which is really magnificent. Its stores are large and capacious, the barracks airy and convenient, and in every respect fitted for the troops. The officers’ quarters are good, and their mess rooms

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extremely comfortable. Fine covered balconies and galleries extend along the Barracks, which are very pleasant for the men. This garrison is ornamented with the finest parade ground I have ever seen in the West Indies. “ Many a time and oft” have I repaired thither to see the troops reviewed, and never without experiencing pleasure at the sight. True, indeed, the military part of the show, if I may so term it, is, perhaps, greatly inferior to what may be seen in Hyde Park on any review day; but let me tell my readers, that the effect of scenery, on such an occasion, is by no means trifling. I would a thousand times rather behold the governor of Barbados, accompanied by his staff, reviewing a single regiment on the parade ground at St. Ann’s, than one of our grandest reviews in the park. The gaudy trappings of the troops glittering in the splendid rays of a tropic sun, the fine clear blue sky above them, with light clouds ever and anon passing over its azure surface, present, on the whole, a very pleasing appearance; but that which creates most interest in the mind of an Englishman, is not the scene itself, but the immense concourse of spectators who flock to witness it. The fairest Creoles in the isle gazing from their carriage windows, with feelings of unmixed pleasure and delight; gentlemen on horseback; and thousands, I might almost say tens of thousands, of spectators on foot. These last, however, were chiefly slaves, negroes, or people of colour; and it really afforded me no small share of amusement to see the

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real and unaffected smile of happiness that gilded every brow, and shone upon all the joyous countenances that surrounded me.

Could some of those, thought I, as I gazed upon that happy scene, could some of those who picture to themselves this race of beings as a miserable, unhappy, and oppressed people, have witnessed as I did thousands of their laughing faces, and have seen their healthy and contented appearance, they might have wondered to see them looking tenfold happier than the lower class of their own countrymen.

Here there was no sign of distress, no appearance of poverty ; but in England the pleasure of such a scene would be materially damped by beholding some unfortunate beings at the carriage doors of our nobility, imploring assistance from their generosity, to relieve the miseries of poverty, or satisfy the cravings of hunger.

The Court House and Jail in Bridgetown are one building; and that one not very convenient. The members of the council and assembly do not, however, think it below their dignity to sit therein, to decide on all matters of importance to the colony. There are one or two schools in Bridgetown, founded by the Bishop, which are very good looking buildings.

The town also contains many handsome houses belonging to private gentlemen, with a post-office, public library, commercial rooms, &c. The streets are tolerably neat and cleanly; but owing to the quantity of white sand about them, they have a pecu-

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liar and very disagreeable glare of light, which I think must be somewhat injurious to the eyes. I know of nothing more, worthy of notice in the external appearance of Bridgetown : the manners and customs of its inhabitants, its internal conveniences, and the general state of society, shall be discussed in our next chapter. In the mean while we leave our readers to rest and quietness, and beg leave to retire, to take a little of the same wholesome refreshment for ourselves.

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CHAPTER VI. THE RIDE—THE RECEPTION.

“ Brutus and Cassius “ Are rid, like madmen, through the gates of Rome.”

Shakespeare. “ Your graces are right welcome.”

Ibid.

thou art, indeed, fair and famous, and great is thy influence over society. Such are the reflections of a stranger who arrives in a foreign land, and finds himself in the midst of inhospitable inhabitants; without a being to defend him from imposition, or preserve him from neglect; without a friend to greet his arrival, in whose kindly mansion he might take a jovial meal by day, or enjoy a peaceful slumber by night. Such, too, were my own reflections, but, under far different circumstances —for although the first night of my arrival was marked by a welcome, as cold and comfortless as the temperature of the climate could well allow; yet, on the second, I found myself seated at the luxurious table of a jolly Barbadian, surrounded by a set of beings who conversed with me without reserve; and who, ere we parted, warmed by many bumpers of Madeira, and a few of that sparkling and exciting beverage yclept Champaigne—treated me with all the intimacy of an old friend; and I had the pleasHOSPITALITY,—

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ing task of committing to my memory (which, thank Heaven, is a tolerably good one) the catalogue of about a dozen invitations, given me by the hospitable guests, in the sincerity of their dispositions, and the kindness of their hearts.

The aforementioned good memory did not allow me to forget one of these invites; and accordingly, for the first fortnight after my arrival, I was continually visiting—passing both day and night under the roof of one kind friend or other, and seldom, or never, sleeping at my hotel.

By this time, however, my father was placed in government quarters, whence he shortly after removed to a private dwelling, which passed by the lordly denomination of Chepstow Lodge.

Here we took up our abode, which being on a low and damp spot near the river, was none of the healthiest : my father was constantly on duty ; while I made the best use of the letters of introduction he had brought with him to the governor and principal officers of the garrison. My time at first was greatly employed in paying and receiving visits, to and from the military and civilians; and seldom a day passed without my receiving a summons to breakfast or dine with some of the former in their mess rooms, or an hospitable invitation to spend the day at one of the pleasant villas of the latter.

It was in obedience to one of these marks of kindness, that I found myself on a fine morning, in the month of December (look ye, good reader, there was no snow on the ground) taking a “tête à tête” break-

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fast with Captain Phillipson of the — regiment.

“Well, Bayley,” said he, “what think ye of these Barbadians—they are right good fellows, are they not ? ” “ The question,” I replied, “ is hardly fair; but if I may judge from the short time I have been amongst them, they are, indeed, right good fellows.” “ You have not, I think, been yet out of town; when you go into the country, and visit their estates, I doubt not but that your opinion, now hardly formed, will be then strengthened and confirmed.—I suppose you know the process of sugar making. ” “ No, indeed, I do not,” said I, “ I imagine, however, that it is very laborious; and as an Englishman, and a lover of freedom, I pity from my heart the unfortunate beings who are condemned to toil incessantly for the base purpose of accumulating wealth for their inhuman masters.”

Phillipson smiled. How often have I since smiled myself, when reflecting on that speech ; how different are my opinions now, how completely have I been undeceived!” “ Well,” resumed my friend, as the servant was bearing away the remains of what had once been a breakfast, “ this is crop time, there are horses without, and if you are not better engaged, we will take a ride together. There is an estate not far from this, and I have once, and only once, spoken to the manager : this, however, is enough to warrant a more formal introduction. Thither we will go; he will treat us like noble fellows as we are; and you will see

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good Barbadian sugar made after a style that you have no idea of.”

I assented to his proposal; and accordingly we mounted our horses, and before ten o’clock were clear of Bridgetown, and on the high road to Colville estate.

As we rode along, we met numbers of negroes on their way to town, carrying on their heads baskets of fruit and vegetables to sell in the market. They were, in goodly sooth, a merry set, and our ears were assailed during the ride with the continued clatter of their tongues. Nevertheless we heard not once the murmur of complaint, or the voice of discontent. All who encountered our gaze had laughing faces, joy was on every countenance, and the stamp of gladness imprinted on every brow. “ Is it possible,” I asked, “ that these people can be slaves, and yet so happy in their slavery?”

Phillipson had no time to reply to my question, before our attention was attracted by a group of negroes standing round a black man who was sitting on a stone by the road side. He was the most miserable being I had ever seen: and it was impossible to look on his beggarly and impoverished condition without a feeling of pity; even the group who surrounded him, regarded him with compassion ; and I observed one or two of the women giving him a bunch of plantains out of their baskets. I threw him a penny as we passed; and as we continued our ride along the smooth and level road, I said to my friend, “ what inhuman master could have so ill treated a human being, as to leave him, like the

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miserable creature we have just passed; houseless, without clothes, and depending for his sustenance on the pity and charity of his fellow slaves. Does the legislature allow this?” “ No,” said my friend. “ You will be long in the West Indies before you find a slave in such a condition. That man is free, free as the air he breathes, and worthless as the stone he sits on. You saw how the negroes pitied him; you even saw they gave him food. I warrant they envied not his freedom; and yet I believe it is his own fault that he is not better off. Some incidents of his life have come to my knowledge, and they are by no means uninteresting.

Indeed, I thought them worth committing to paper, and you can see them whenever you like. However, here we are, at the end of our journey: yonder are the works of Colville estate; and a little farther on is the goodly mansion of its proprietor, or what the negroes would term the great house. As our purpose is to see the process of making sugar, I propose riding to the works, where we shall be most likely to find the manager.”

Accordingly we rode thither, and a couple of joyous little “sans culottes” approached to hold our horses, while an old woman conducted us to the boiling house, where, as my friend said, we found the manager.

Gentlemanly reader, thou canst have no idea of a manager; for I tell thee that I had none myself until I saw one. However, I will portray one to thee “toute suite.”

IN THE WEST INDIES.

43

Mr. Merrythought, such was the name of the gentleman to whom Phillipson introduced me, was a very good natured-looking middle-aged man; and by the smile on his countenance, I presume he had been indulging in his merry thoughts at the very moment of our entrance. He was dressed (I write this for the amusement and information of those ladies who always inquire how Mr. or Mrs. so and so were dressed) in a white jacket; his waistcoat and pantaloons were of the same colour; his shoes, to use an Irishcism, were what West Indians call overseer's boots; and his hat, made in the country, was of a kind of straw, with a brim that might have extended some thirteen inches beyond the crown. Ah, me! Ah, me! I intended to bring one of the said chapeaux home with me, but the winds in the Indies are sometimes adverse as well as the winds in the channel, and accordingly it was taken by the same from the seat of all my knowledge, and carried “ Miles and miles across the briny deep ;”

where “ It sunk, and sunk, alas! to rise no more.”

I am heartily sorry for the fact, especially as my readers, (for whose amusement I am really anxious, are deprived of a glimpse of the said hat, which they might otherwise have taken; as I intended to sport it in the Regent’s Park; that park which is the most fashionable of all fashionable places every day in the week, and the most vulgar of all vulgar promenades on a Sunday afternoon.

But to return to the manager and his hat, which

44

FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

he never doffed, except to hang it on the brass headed nail in his hall till it should be again wanted; he doffed it not therefore to your humble servant and his friend, but rather addressed us with an open hand, and an open heart, and gave us both a hearty squeeze, and a cordial welcome.

I am sorry, said he, that to-day is market day, and the negroes are all gone to dispose of their fruit and vegetables ; consequently there is no sugar making on the estate : however, you will come home and dine with me ; we can find you beds for to-night, and to-morrow you may see the whole process of sugar making at your leisure ; in the mean time your horses shall be taken care of. “ Here,” said he, to a youngling who stood near him, “go and tell Cudgoe to call Prince, to carry these horses to the stable— you hear, boy.” “I heare, massa,” was the reply; and away scampered the child of sable hue, chanting a lay as merry as the lark’s when he leaves the grove in the morning, and soars upward towards the heavens.

This kind invitation was given in the true spirit of Barbadian hospitality, and my friend took upon himself to say yes for both of us. By the way, Master Phillipson, I think you might have asked my opinion of the matter; he didn’t though, good reader; on the contrary, he seemed to think it no matter at all.

Now be it known I am a quiet soul, and therefore made no opposition ; and so we all trudged on to the great house, where the reader will find us at the commencement of the next chapter.

IN THE WEST INDIES.

45

CHAPTER VII. HOSPITALITY AND CHARACTER OF THE BARBADIANS.

What hospitable welcomes greet The happy guest who seeks Longleat.

For ginger wine, the best receipt, Ask, and you’ll find it at Longleat.

Countess of Morley.

owner of Colville estate was one of those proprietors who reside always in England: and provided the manager to whom the property is entrusted keeps it clear of debts, and contrives to send home a certain quantity of sugar annually, is contented with the yearly income it produces, and feels perfectly satisfied that it is in good hands.

Mr. Merrythought therefore, as personating the proprietor, made the great house his residence. This was a commodious building, one story high, with a long gallery in front, and might have contained some six or seven chambers, besides the servants’ rooms, kitchen, &c. which were unattached.

When we entered the hall, we were somewhat astonished at being introduced by the worthy manager to his wife and daughter; I say astonished, because there are few worthy managers in the West Indies who can boast the possession of such legitimate gems : we were, however, rather pleased than THE

46

FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

otherwise at this, especially as we found the ladies by no means deficient either in personal charms or in the powers of conversation. Mrs. Merrythought was a Creole, and had never left Barbados; her manners were plain and homely, and altogether without affectation. Her long residence in the island had furnished her with many anecdotes of the negroes; and she described, in a very lively manner, some circumstances concerning the last insurrection of the slaves, which proved very interesting,—in short, I found her an extremely agreeable companion, and for a time I neither discovered the absence of the planter, who had retired “pour changer ses habits,” nor the earnest conversation of his fair daughter with my friend, who, I should have told my readers, “Was fam’d for gallantry in war and love,”

“ Tempus fugit,” that is to say, time flies, and very often much faster than we poor mortals are aware of, Mr. Merrythought returned, saying it was five o’clock, and the servant followed him, saying, “Massa, dinner readyaccordingly we proceeded to the dining-room, and now “ nous allons manger quelque chose.”

Reader, I am a bad hand at describing, although a tolerable good one at demolishing a dinner; what then shall I tell thee of the turtle ? shall I say it was delicious? alas! I fear that would only make thy mouth water for a share; shall I say it was like “mock turtle,” that would be mockery indeed; so I will say nothing at all about it; I will not even men-

47

IN THE WEST INDIES.

tion the wines; for since I have taken to drink the detestable sherry we get in England, I cannot bear to think of the good old West India Madeira; when I do so I sigh in very sorrow, and wipe away just such a tear as the soldier did when “ “ “ “

He turn’d upon the hill To take a last fond look Of the valley, and the village church, And the cottage by the brook.”

T. H. Bayly.

Well, well; the repast was removed, and the dessert placed on the table; then, and not till then, did I remember that we, viz. my friend and self, had engaged to go to Mrs. L—’s ball, which was to take place that very evening. Phillipson had forgotten it altogether, and seemed so well pleased with his condition, that I verily believe he wished I had forgotten it also.

As I remembered it, however, there was no excuse for him, and we were obliged to defer the pleasure of passing a night at Colville estate to some future opportunity.

Our horses were brought to the door; and we parted from our kind friends, though not without many pressing invitations to repeat our visit whenever business or pleasure might attract us to that road.

We put our horses on the gallop, and were not long returning to town, when we each sought our respective homes, in order to dress for Mrs. L—’s ball.

The little incident that had just transpired was not one of those that happen “ once in a thousand years;”

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

a long residence in the islands has taught me that the hospitality shown us by Mr. Merrythought was part of the West Indian character, and I have learnt, by experience, that the planters extend it unreservedly to all strangers who may chance to visit their estates, only in a greater or less degree according to their means.

I will take this opportunity of giving the character of a Barbadian, in which hospitality forms no inconsiderable trait.

A Barbadian resembles in no point a Creole of the other islands; his manners, his feelings, his ideas, and even the tone of his voice is different. He possesses much good nature, an open heart, strong feelings, and, generally speaking, is greatly attached to his family. He is also somewhat patriotic ; and it would require much argument to convince him that any other island in the West Indies can be of consequence equal to the land of his birth, which he proudly remembers is the first and most ancient of all the colonies of the mother country. Barbados was always in the possession of England; was never attacked by the armies of a foreign power; and only once by the forces of the long parliament. There are, therefore, not a few Barbadians who can boast a long pedigree, and trace their line of descent as far back as the times of the first and earliest settlers in the island. They also justly pride themselves on their loyalty to their sovereign; and on having afforded, in ancient times, a refuge to the royalists.

A Barbadian has much firmness of character, and

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49

what the world would call a nice sense of honour.

Indeed, I know no class of people more impatient under an injury, or more quick to avenge an insult.

Attachment to the Church of England, and detestation of the Methodists, are marked features in his character, over which prejudice has some influence.

I never knew a Barbadian easy out of his own country; in other places trifles annoy him, and his general remark is, “ How different from Barbados !” nevertheless, he is industrious, and strangers may live in his island without his troubling himself with their affairs; I wish I could say as much for some others.

His countrymen make use of some odd phrases, and have a tone of voice entirely peculiar to themselves; so that after having visited the island you might easily know a Barbadian, if you met one in society, in any other quarter of the world : in such a case, address him frankly; tell him where you have been; talk to him of his own dear country,—praise it (for you may do so without flattery), and you will make a friend of him at once.

Thus have I briefly given the characters of the men; and now let us turn to the fairer sex—but stay —what wants Mat ? “ Massa, dere one buckra sojer “ down in de hall, he been tell me he da wait for “ you!” “ Say I am coming, Matand accordingly I went below, and found Phillipson waiting in the hall. “ Why, what the devil has been keeping you all “ this time ?” said he, “ a little while ago you were “ all anxiety to get away from Merrythought’s, and to E

50

FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

“ hurry me from the sweet smiles and sprightly chit“ chat of his fair daughter, under pretence of going to “ Mrs. L—’s ball; and now, forsooth, that it is half “ past nine, which is half an hour after time, I call in, “ expecting to find you dressed and ready, and your “ servant tells me that you are up stairs writing.” “ Well,” said I, “ do not scold, and I will be with “ you in a minute then hastening to my room, I was soon dressed, and taking my friend’s arm, we proceeded together to the ball.

51

IN THE WEST INDIES.

CHAPTER VIII. SOCIETY AND EDUCATION.

“ Society! in goodly sooth, thou art A motley word, and much dost thou contain, “ Replete with many a joy, and many a smart ; “ A share of pleasure and a share of pain.” “

Author. “ All nations have agreed in the necessity of a strict education “ which consisted in the observance of moral duties.”

Swift.

IN the arrangement of her parties, no lady in Barbados displayed more taste than Mrs. L—. Her house was a general rendezvous for the lovers of amusement, but on occasions like the present, when any thing so important as a ball was to be given, expectation was on tiptoe for at least a month previous; and seldom were her guests disappointed in their hopes of a “ brilliante assemble.”

When we entered the room, therefore, great was the blaze of beauty that burst upon -our view. It was long since I had seen any thing like it, for even the well remembered dance before mentioned, which I had the honour to open with my worthy aunt Josephine, was nothing to be compared to this. Oh ! woman, woman ! thou art, indeed, an enchantress :— the most beautiful of our dreams are of thee; the happiest moments of our lives are spent in thy presence!

E 2

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

Perhaps there is no island in the tropics that can boast a greater number of ladies, or a fairer display of female grace and loveliness, than the island of Barbados. The heart of an Englishman is scarcely proof against the charms of a young and beautiful creole, when he beholds her, even in private — simple nature, without the aid of art:—judge then of his feelings in a ball room, where he sees many assembled ; and all with their natural beauty set off and adorned with every ornament that taste or fashion can suggest.

When we arrived the dancing was just about to begin, and Phillipson, who seemed to know every body, introduced me to a young lady of great beauty; whose marriage with one of his brother officers was shortly to take place. We danced the first dance together, and I found her a very lively and fascinating partner ; she had, like most of the daughters of resident proprietors, been to England for her education, whence she had not long returned. Her years might have numbered about eighteen; and I marvel not that the unaffected simplicity of her manner, and the extreme loveliness of her person, should have won the heart of her brave intended, the young and handsome Captain B—.

She had ringlets, you will say. Yes, reader, she had dark and glossy ringlets, that reminded me of Laura’s. She had fine eyes, you will say :—eyes that sparkled with animation, and beamed with all the fire of love ; cheeks tinged with the rose blush of modesty, and a brow, polished by the hand of beauty

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53

alone ; but the fair Barbadian had more than this, or I doubt whether the gallant captain, young and handsome as he was, would have suffered himself to be bound in the silken cords of matrimony :—I say she had more than this, for she had twenty thousand pounds!

Mrs. L—’s ball had opened, as is the custom in the West Indies, with a country dance ; quadrilles followed in quick succession, and the fair creoles mingled in the diversion with a spirit and alacrity seldom seen even in colder climates : indeed I may say their heart and soul was in the dance ; yet they did not appear the least tired or fatigued with the exertion ; and when the morning gun announced that it was five o’clock, and daylight came peeping through the windows, I observed that they all departed with regret, and many seemed as if they could have willingly danced it all over again.

The society of Barbados is very good and pretty extensive; nevertheless the civilians and the military mix very little, and the former are rather shy of the latter. It is true that they are often brought together at balls, given by the governor, and other public parties, but it is a rare circumstance to find many red coats in the house of a private individual.

This mistrust of the Barbadians (I speak of those gentlemen who have grown up families) towards the officers of his majesty’s army, has rather increased than diminished of late years; perhaps not without good reason.

I fear that a few military men (for I will not speak

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

in a general sense) have too often abused the friendly hospitality of a father, by seducing the affections of his daughter ; have too often broken the heart of a mother, by stealing from her bosom her fair and tender child.

In my opinion, the deep curse of affliction cannot fall too heavily on the head of that man who would abuse the tenderness, and trifle with the love of a woman; and I look upon this cautious conduct of the Barbadians as rather praiseworthy than otherwise, since it is with a view of maintaining the peace and happiness of their children.

There are, however, many married officers with their families, belonging to the garrison ; and, by keeping together, they might form a very nice little circle of society in themselves. I shall take occasion to say more of this hereafter, when I treat of the general state of society in the West Indies.

Education is now making some progress in Barbados, and the inhabitants are beginning to feel the benefit of its influence.

In the Central School, which is a large building near the cathedral, upwards of a hundred and seventy white children receive their education and sustenance; and not a few of these are accommodated with houseroom. This is an excellent and charitable institution, and those who support and maintain it are deserving of no small share of credit. Boys only are admitted here, but there is also another establishment for girls, founded on equally good principles. Thus the sexes are divided, while the instruction given to each is

IN THE WEST INDIES.

55

likely to produce the most beneficial effects. There are several other establishments in Barbados for the education of children of all colors ; I believe they owe their foundation chiefly to the Bishop, but the expense of maintaining them devolves on government.

The children, who attend these schools, are gratuitously taught all that is necessary for them to know, except the art of writing ; this has been prohibited from prejudice: I say prejudice, because I really can find no other motive for withholding a knowledge at once useful and important.

In Barbados there is a peculiar fancy for giving to places the names of European cities and even nations. The rock which has the honour to support the episcopal palace, passes by the denomination of Gibralta Rock; the island itself is frequently called by the nomenclature of Little England; while in one part of it is situated Brighton, without its chain pier, and in another, Scotland, without its towns.

On the borders of this latter place stands, in a very beautiful and convenient situation, Codrington College. The approach to this building is through a long and very pretty avenue of mountain cabbage trees.

The building itself is large and commodious, and appears perfectly weatherproof. A chapel, a room for the students, resembling the schoolrooms of our large English academies ; some spacious sleeping chambers, the number of which I have forgotten to count; and a library, which, for the number of its volumes, may be called a large one, but certainly

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

not a good one, for their value, compose the main body of the edifice, in the middle of which is an arch of considerable size, facing the above-mentioned avenue of mountain cabbage trees The college is supplied with water from a streamlet in its vicinity, and with air, of the purest, the coolest, and the healthiest kind from the sea, which it overlooks, and from which it is not far distant.

Close to the college, is a very cool, airy, and comfortable dwelling-house, entitled the Principal’s Lodge; which, from its desirable situation, I should pronounce a very enviable residence.

In the sequel of these memoirs, I shall take an opportunity of making some observations upon the present use of this establishment, the intentions of its founder, after whom it is named, and the probable advantages that would accrue, not only to Barbados, but to the West Indies in general, if those intentions were put into execution. For the present, I feel a drowsiness and a languor, which I suppose is the effect of climate; and yet the sun has been long buried in the ocean, and the fire-flies are stirring among the trees, and the gales of evening are cooling the moonbright air; and the moon herself, the pure, chaste, and silver moon, is gilding the Antilles with her bright and lucid beams. The peasant is to his cot, and the lover to the bower of his beloved; the foxes and wolves are to their dens, and the labourer to his bed of repose. This is the hour of pillage and of dreams, when fancy forms her fairest visions, and the robber is thinking of his prey ; but my thoughts

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57

are with thee, my own Laura; thy form floats before my fancy, and I think I hear the silver tones of thy sweet voice, breaking upon my listening ear : it may be but the murmuring of the evening zephyrs; yet, yet the scene is still, still as thy own fair bower ; and the sound is beautiful, beautiful as thou art:— Laura, thou art ever in my mind, for “ I think of thee in the night, “ When all beside is still, “ And the moon comes out, with her pale sad light, “ To sit on the lonely hill:— “ Where the stars are all like dreams, “ And the breezes all like sighs ; “ And there comes a voice from the far off streams, “ Like thy spirit’s low replies ! “ I think of thee by day, “ Mid the cold and busy crowd ; “ When the laughter of the young and gay, “ So far too glad and loud; “ I hear thy low sad tone, “ And thy sweet young smile I see. “ My heart, my heart were all alone, “ But for its thoughts of thee.”

T. K. Hervey.

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

CHAPTER IX. MISCELLANIES.

“ When they have joined their pericranies, “ Out skips a book of miscellanies.”

Swift.

contains, besides its capital, three smaller which, from their dimensions and extent, towns, would rather merit the appellation of villages.

Spikes Town,* which is considerably larger than the other two, is, however, of tolerable size: it contains a church, and its population is considerable ; the inhabitants are chiefly coloured or black; and white men are seldom seen in the town, unless it be people arriving from the capital ; with which there is daily communication, by means of little vessels, which are called the Speights Town passageboats. The bay is tolerable, and formerly the European vessels carried their sugars direct from thence ; but they are now fetched away by small sloops and schooners, employed for that purpose only. These are called Droghers, and are sent to all parts of the Island to collect sugars from the different estates, and carry them to Bridgetown; where they are taken in by the ships destined to BARBADOS

* Speights Town is the more proper way of spelling it; but the Barbadians generally pronounce it Spikes.

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bear them to England. Speights Town has a wharf, which is very convenient for getting the sugar hogsheads into the boats without damage or accident; which frequently happens when they are rolled from the beach, and the surf is unusually high, and the sand very deep. This latter circumstance, which is often the case along the leeward coast of Barbados, is the cause of great inconvenience, particularly to travellers; as their vehicles, and sometimes their horses, are liable to be greatly impeded. There are some beautiful views in the neighbourhood of Speights Town; and not far distant is a small fort with a signal post: this is called Dover Hill, and commands a fine prospect.

About seven miles from this, and the same distance from the capital, is Hole, or James Town.

Here the English first settled ; and the Barbadians tell, that they christened it by this last name in honour of the first Stuart.* This town (since, in spite of reason and good sense, they will call it one) is of a verity small enough; nevertheless it is larger than Austins, which is another town to windward of the capital.

I know of only one circumstance worthy of notice concerning this place ; and that one has been so often told that it is hardly worth repeating.—I will mention it, however, because some of my readers may not have heard of it, and those who have, will * We have the authority of Bryan Edwards, the first historian of she West Indies, for this assertion.

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

forgive me for telling an old story.—So small then is the extent of this town that, on passing through it, Lord Seaforth is reported to have said to his aides-de-camp, “ My friends, if you do not keep “ close, I shall be out of this place before you are “ in it!”

Having said thus much of the minor towns, let us return to the capital, where there are many things more worthy the attention of our readers.—Bridgetown is one of the most noisy places I was ever in; and the sounds that assail the ears from all quarters, are by no means of the most harmonious or agreeable nature.

An immense number of carts pass daily in and out of the town ; these are drawn by bullocks ; and the stentorian lungs of the drivers, hallooing to their animals, are exerted to the great nuisance and discomfiture of the passengers and inhabitants.

The unfortunate creatures that draw these carts are generally of a diminutive size ; poor, weak, lean, and of a very sickly appearance.

There are numbers of them on every estate ; and it is not uncommon to see as many as twelve or fourteen yoked to a single cart. They are kept, I believe, chiefly for their manure, which appears to be as requisite to the Barbadian as it is to the English soil.

Many of the inhabitants of Bridgetown gain a livelihood by sending their slaves round the town and its suburbs, with articles of various kinds for sale.—These they carry on their heads in wooden

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trays, and call at the different doors as they pass; but they do not follow the London custom of crying their articles. From these people, eatables, wearables, jewellery, and dry goods, of all sorts, may be purchased; but those things for which they find the most ready sale, are pickles and preserves, with fruit, sweetmeats, oil, noyau, annisette, eau-de-cologne, toys, ribbons, handkerchiefs, and other little nickknacks, exported from Martinique ; and, indeed, there are very few, even among the higher classes of society, who do not now and then endeavour to “ turn a penny,” by sending their slaves on such moneymaking excursions.

The lower class, consisting chiefly of free black or colored people, and sometimes of slaves, whose owners are contented with the monthly stipend they produce, who cannot afford to deal in articles of value, we find engaged in petty traffic, keeping hucksters’ shops ; and either taking or sending out for sale stone-jars, gurglets for holding water, saltfish, Guinea corn, raisins, plums, barley, and other miscellanies of a trifling nature: we see also, at the corner of almost every street, women sitting on little stools, and sometimes on the ground, with one or two fat and chubby little ones sporting by their side, and a tray, containing sugar or ginger-cakes. Should this volume chance to fall into the hand of some of my little countrymen, they might, perhaps, feel a desire to know the nature of a sugar-cake. It is then about one of the most unwholesome eatables that the West Indies produce, and is made of sugar,

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boiled during a certain time, which being poured upon a stone or board, is put in the sun to harden: nothing can be more pernicious or cloying to the stomachs of children, when taken in any quantity.

Of all the classes of people who inhabit Bridgetown, the poor whites are the lowest, and the most degraded : residing in the meanest hovels, they pay no attention either to neatness in their dwellings or cleanliness in their persons ; and they subsist too often, to their shame be it spoken, on the kindness and the charity of slaves. I have never seen a more sallow, dirty, ill looking, and unhappy race ; the men lazy, the women disgusting, and the children neglected : all without any notion of principle, morality, or religion; forming a melancholy picture of living misery ; and a strong contrast with the general appearance of happiness depicted on the countenances of the free black, and colored people, of the same class.

Of this latter sort, I think the men by far more industrious than the women: a great number of them are mechanics; and the business of carpenters and turners appears to thrive excessively well in Bridgetown.

They make excellent furniture, particularly bedsteads ; for which there is a continual demand; and the articles are by no means expensive, if considered in proportion with other things. Masons and bricklayers, also, generally find employment, although their work is none of the best.

In Bridgetown there is a receptacle for maniacs,

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in which a few unfortunate individuals are confined ; although loss of intellect is an occurrence rarely witnessed in the West Indies.

The public library and the commercial rooms are good establishments: from the latter, signals are made to all vessels that either pass or enter the port; and a book is kept in the rooms, where the name of every ship, sloop, schooner, or brig, that may have arrived during the day, is duly entered : also the nature of her cargo, where she is from, the person to whom she is consigned, the day of her departure, the length of her passage, and the names of the passengers she may have brought with her.

The post office in Bridgetown, is also pretty well conducted, and the letters are generally delivered in the course of an hour and a half after the arrival of the packet.

The Barbadian money, differs altogether from that current in England, and all persons on their first arrival in the island, are liable to great imposition, and lose and spend much unnecessarily, from their want of knowledge of West India currency, and an unacquaintance with its proportionate value to British coin. Hitherto, no one who has written on the West Indies has sufficiently explained, or in any way endeavoured to remedy this inconvenience ; I am confident, therefore, that should this work fall into the hands of persons going to that part of the world, they will find the following rules and tables, not only of infinite use and importance, but altogether essential and indispensable.

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

In Barbados, the current coins are Doubloons, Joes, Dollars, Half Dollars, Quarter Dollars, a silver piece, called a “ Bitt and Twopence,” a Fivepenny, Pence, and Halfpence.

1

Halfpenny.

2

1

Penny.

9¼

4¾

1

18¾

9¼

2

1

37½ 18¾

4

2

1

75

37½

8

4

2

1

150

75

16

8

4

2

1

1200 600 128

64

32

16

8

1

Joe.

2400 1200 256 128

64

32

16

8

1

Fivepenny.

Bitt and twopence.

Quarter Dollar.

Half Dollar.

Dollar.

Doubloon.

10 Bitts make one dollar.

5 Ditto. . . . ½ a dollar.

2½ Ditto. ... ¼ dollar.

A bitt is 7½d. currency, and a dollar is 6s. 3d.

A Table, showing the Value of each of the above Coins in the Currency of Barbados, and in British Army Sterling.

Coins.

Currency.

Sterling. £. s. d. £. s. d.

5 0 0 1 Doubloon 3 9 4 2 10 0 1 Joe 1 14 8 0 6 3 1 Dollar 0 4 4 ½ Dollar 0 2 2 0 3 1½ ¼ Dollar 0 1 1 0 1 6¾ 1 Bitt and twopence.... 0 0 9¼ 0 0 6½ 0 0 7½ 1 Bitt 0 0 5 0 0 4¾ 1 Fivepennv 0 0 3¼ 0 0 3¾ 0 0 2½ ½ Bitt

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65

Rule to reduce British Sterling into Currency : Multiply the amount sterling by 75, and divide it by 52.

Rule to reduce Currency to Sterling: s. d.

Suppose .

One fifth One fifth One third

1 0 0

l. s. d.

0 6 3 currency:

3 3 5 0

1 11

0

4

4 sterling.

To reduce any amount sterling into dollars, bring the amount sterling into pence, and divide by 52, the quotient will be the number of dollars required.

I certainly was never born for calculation, and so great is my aversion to it, that even the little matter of pounds, shillings, and pence; joes, dollars, and doubloons, that I have just been discussing, has made me completely weary; and thereby given me a fellow-feeling for my readers, whom, I have no doubt, are somewhat tired themselves : having duly considered the awful consequences of fatiguing two such important personages as my reader and myself, I shall draw this chapter to a conclusion : he will retire, and I will retire, and in a short time we shall both be ranked among “ the dreamers.�

F

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FOUR YEARS’ RESIDENCE

CHAPTER X. DISHONESTY OF THE DOMESTIC SLAVES. — A NEGRO SUPPER.

“ To-night we hold a solemn supper.”

Shakespeare. “ When they had supped, they brought Tobias in.”

Ibid.

if my breakfast be a good one, of a truth I do enjoy it more than any other meal ; therefore, when I had consigned my calculations to my portfolio, before I proceeded to seek the influence of Somnus, I summoned Mat to my presence. “ Well, Mat.” “ Well, Massa.” “ What have you got for breakfast to-morrow?” “ Salt fish, Massa.”

Now I must tell my reader, that salt fish is the fish that I abominate above all others, and although Mat, very goodnaturedly, offered to get it dressed with eggs, butter, onions, and sundry other ingredients, yet I could not reconcile it to my epicurean notions, and accordingly I desired him to get me something else, and eat the salt fish himself. “ Tankey, Massa, tankey ;” and Mat was off before I could say another word.

READER,

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“ Holloa, Mat! where are you going ?” “ Coming, Massa.” “ Now do you know what to get me for breakfast “ to-morrow ?” “ No, Sir.” “ Well then, you will let me have flying Ash and “ roasted yam, with a good cup of coffee ; and do you “ hear, wake me early, that I may take a ride before “ breakfast.” Whether my sound sleep was the effect of the calculation, or of the strong glass of sangaree, mixed for me by Mat, before I retired, I know not; but it is certain that I slept soundly, and without waking, until, in obedience to my command, he roused me at six o’clock the next morning.

It was a fair dawn, that indicated a fairer day; nevertheless, Mat declared that something bad would happen, for he said he had seen a black cloud pass over the town that morning, in which he could plainly distinguish the eyes, nose, mouth, and chin of a certain sable relation of his, yclept Sago; who had been long deceased, and, as Mat thought, as long allied to the god of all mischief.

This awful foreboding did not, however, disturb my peace of mind, and I mounted horse with more composure than Mat expected to see ; and proceeded on my morning ride.

I can tell my reader, that there is nothing more delightful than a morning ride in the West Indies; unless it be a delicious and refreshing bath in the clear waves of the Atlantic. To benefit, however, by the salubrious and cool air, one should rise at five F 2

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o’clock:—It is pleasant even at six, but at that hour the sun is up, and the heat of the tropic sun is considerable, even in the morning.

Nevertheless, my ride was right pleasant, for there was no fog to be dispersed, and the atmosphere was light and unoppressive: I rode towards the country, and the scenery was eminently beautiful. The road I had chosen was narrow, and shaded by the richest foliage; a hedge of Barbados pride, with the pearly dewdrops still clinging to its blossoms of bright red; flowers growing wild by the road side; trees in beautiful variety; the mango, the cocoanut, the sandbox, and a thousand others, with the mountain cabbage, last and loftiest, o’ertopping all the rest, and waving in the morning breeze its stately and graceful branches. On my return through the town, I met lots of negroes, carrying on their heads wooden cans of water, which they had been to fetch from the river. This is one of the indispensables of life, and Europeans would deem it somewhat inconvenient, to be obliged to send a servant for it twice a day, to a spring at a considerable distance from their dwellings : the Barbadians are obliged to do this, and custom and necessity have reconciled them to it.

Well, clatter, clatter, clatter went the tongues of the aforesaid water-bearers : men, women, and children, all talked ; but as a matter of course, the women talked loudest: this was only what might have been expected by the least reasonable of beings.

Amongst the many speeches that assailed my ears, I paid most attention to the following conversation,

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which proceeded from two black boys, who were walking behind me. “ If massa been know somting, he would lick me “ dis night self.” “ Whar for ?” said his companion. “ You sabe, daddy Quaco da gib one ball to-night, “ and I bin tief one dollar for buy wine.” “ Dat like me,” was the reply, “ I bin take from “ misses, one young fowle, and two bottle portar, “ she bin hab friends last night, and she will tink “ de gentlemen drink um.”

I was somewhat shocked to find so much dishonesty and want of principle in mere children, for neither of the boys behind me were more than twelve years old ; but a longer residence in the West Indies has convinced me that all negroes have a natural propensity for thieving; and parents teach children, from the most tender age, to steal trifles whenever they have an opportunity. Things of great value and importance, I believe, they would not touch, because they would be restrained by their fear of the consequences of a discovery. Hence it happens that house-breaking and robberies are occurrences of a very rare nature in the West Indies, and indeed, I believe there are only two or three instances of the kind upon record.

In Barbados, however, as well as in the other islands, masters are greatly plundered by their servants, of such things as poultry, porter, wine, and sometimes even of money ; for the purpose of carrying them to entertainments, which the negroes give

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among themselves. These parties are carried on in the following manner: the members assemble at a certain hour, at the appointed place of rendezvous, which is usually a negro hut, belonging to one of the party: tea and coffee are first handed round, after which, the musicians, consisting of perhaps three fiddlers, a tambourine player, and a man who beats an instrument called a triangle, commence playing, and the dancing continues for a while in the most lively and spirited manner. I would here remark, that the blacks dance many of them as well as their masters; and the ladies of sable hue have not unfrequently a perfect knowledge of their steps, and move with a grace not inferior to those who have been the pupils of a Le Merci, or danced on the floor of Almacks. After dancing, the group sit down to the supper table, the contents of which have all been stolen from the masters or mistresses of the different guests. One has brought a fowl, another a turkey ; a third, a ham ; a fourth, a pie, pudding, or tartlet; a fifth, a bottle of champagne; a sixth, a bottle of madeira; a seventh, a bottle of port; an eighth, a bottle of claret; a ninth, a bottle, or perhaps half a dozen of porter; and a tenth, pineapples, mangoes, oranges, shaddocks, plumbs, almonds and raisins, with a few French preserves, for which the donor had taken french leave ; and a tempting water melon : so that for their dessert they get more than they deserve; and the whole supper, even if it be not arranged upon the table according to the strictest rules of etiquette, and may not be called elegant, is,

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nevertheless a very substantial meal. After supper the parties separate, and each returns to his home; the masters know nothing of the matter; but if by chance, any of them are charged the next day with having been on such an excursion, they do not hesitate in declaring that they have never left the house, and assert, with the most impudent assurance, their total ignorance that even such an occurrence was to take place.

The following account of one of these negro entertainments may, perhaps, afford the reader some amusement ; and, as I was a resident in the island at the time the occurrence took place, I can vouch for the authenticity of the statement.

It was during a season of great gaiety in the island of St. Vincent, when the inhabitants were giving parties in quick succession, that the head servant of a person of some consequence in the colony, determined on giving a splendid ball to his fellow domestics in the town, from which his master’s residence was about seven miles distant. Accordingly, invitations were sent round, and every servant had directions to steal to the utmost from his master’s table, and lay it by till the important night should arrive : — at last it did arrive, and all the guests were assembled, except the entertainer himself, who could not leave home till his master had retired to bed. As soon, however, as the gentleman withdrew, his servant and the lady, (a female domestic on the same estate, whom he had chosen to be queen of the feast,) equipped in wearables belonging to their master and his daughters, and

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mounted on the best horses in the stables, which the groom, who was to be one of the party, procured for them, with a boy behind them, they rode into town.

On their arrival they gave their horses to the boy, desiring him to make them fast to a tree ; and then repairing to the entertainment, the ball commenced, and it was near daylight when supper was announced.

Before going to the supper table, however, the host again called the boy, and told him to bring the horses to the door, that when supper was over, they might get back again, before people were moving on the estate. When the boy repaired to execute these commands, he found that he had made the horses much faster than he intended. So fast, indeed, that one poor animal, in endeavouring to extricate himself from the tree, although he had broken the rope, had strangled himself in the attempt, and now lay dead on the ground. In a few minutes, the boy ran back into the jovial assembly, crying, “ Massa, horse “ dead—Massa, horse dead—-Massa, horse dead !” —— there was a general stir at the news; some cried and tore their caps, others ran to the spot where the deceased lay, the more cunning part of the community decamped with hams, turkeys, fowls, wine, &c., determined that the accident should not spoil their suppers, while the unfortunate fellow who had given the entertainment repaired to the woods in a great fright, where he concealed himself for a day or two, but was afterwards taken, and being a favourite servant, was, I believe, pardoned. The owner of the horse had been offered three hundred dollars for it only the day before.

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Another anecdote was related to me by a lady, in which dishonesty is resorted to, as a means of showing gratitude for kindness : I will give it in her own words. “ One afternoon,” said she, “ I observed a female “ slave, sitting weeping on the step of my door : I “ called her in to ask her why she wept: she told me “ that she belonged to a black woman, who sent her “ out daily to sell sundry articles from her tray; and “ who was in the habit of beating her, if she returned “ without having succeeded in selling something. “ She said she had that day failed in her attempts, “ and was crying, in expectation of a beating on her “ return. I pitied the poor woman’s distress, and to “ save her from being flogged, I bought something “ from her tray; when she departed, with many ex“ pressions of gratitude. The next day she returned, “ bringing with her two bottles of lavender water, “ which she begged me to accept. I asked her where “ she got them ; she told me she had taken them from “ her mistress :—Then you have stolen them said I ?

“No, misses, me no tief um, me take um, was the “ reply. I, of course, refused the gift, and told the “ woman to put them back in the place whence she “ had taken them. She still continued, however, to “ press my acceptance of the lavender water, and “ finding it of no avail, she departed in high dud“ geon.”

So much for the honesty of the domestic slaves.

I have more to say on this subject, but Mat says the breakfast is ready, and on a matter of such vast importance, I am sure my readers will excuse me.

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CHAPTER XI. MOONLIGHT. — METHODISTS AND MILITIA.

“ If you will patiently dance in our round, “ And see our moonlight revels, — go with us.”

Shakespeare. “ They deem that cant and methodist are “ Synonymous terms.”

Miscellaneous Pamphlet.

— “ Numbers numberless “ The city gates out-pour’d ; light armed troops “ In coats of mail and military pride.”

Milton.

SCARCELY had I finished breakfast, when Mat came running to me in a great fright, saying the town was on fire ! and attributing the accident to the black cloud he had seen in the morning. He told this news with a very arch expression of countenance; and, no doubt, thought I should pay more attention to his future predictions of good and evil.

I immediately ran out, and saw that Mats report was but too true : and ordering my horse directly, set off for town. The fire had commenced in one of the houses in the Bay, in which there was a considerable quantity of oil and rum; and as fireengines are not procured in the West Indies quite so quickly as in England, the flames had made great progress, and had communicated to several of the

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adjoining houses. The sensation created by the event, and the immediate bustle that ensued, was greater than either my readers can fancy, or I describe.

Cries of fire were heard in every direction, and thousands of people came running from all quarters of the town, to the scene of conflagration. The drums beat to arms, and the militia troops were immediately turned out: this precaution was taken to prevent plunder, and in case of an insurrection of the slaves.—Military guards were sent to the public offices, and all papers and documents were removed with the greatest care to a place of safety.

The inhabitants in the immediate vicinity commenced moving their goods; and in the general confusion, many things of value were carried off by those officious vagabonds, who kindly came to offer their assistance, where their owners never heard of them more ! People were seen in every street, carrying on their heads beds, bedsteads, sofas, tables, chairs, and furniture, of every description.—Soldiers parading, and officers galloping, through the town.

Women crying and bewailing the loss of their property.—Some carrying water, and others pulling down houses, to stop the progress of the flames : in fact, it was a busy scene, in which all the world were actively employed, and every one in Bridgetown appeared concerned and interested in the event.

It was two o’clock before the fire was extinguished, which had burnt down upwards of twenty

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houses.—They were, however, chiefly negro-houses, very small, and of no great value; which being built of wood, were consumed easily by the flames.

The roads in Barbados are very good; and as the country is level, vehicles of every kind are kept, not only in the town, but by planters on the estates.

Nearly all the inhabitants of Bridgetown keep their horse and gig; but there are not many four-wheel carriages.—In these gigs, the ladies go shopping, or paying visits, driven generally by a black servant, who sits on the shaft: sometimes, however, they drive themselves, and the boy holds on behind; even as my readers have seen their own little countrymen do, when they are wont to take a ride, free of expense. It is a curious circumstance, that no one ever thinks of riding in the West Indies, even on horseback, without taking a boy with him, to hold his horse when he alights. The unfortunate mortal chosen for this service, is obliged to keep up with his master, however fast he may go; and when the latter quickens his pace, he generally holds on by the horse’s tail.—The trio, on such occasions, that is to say, the master, the servant, and the horse, form a most ludicrous picture, and one that Cruikshank himself would not find unworthy of illustration.

In West India towns there are no watchmen; neither are the streets lit up: the stores, with the exception of a very few, are closed at four or five o’clock in the evening, and rows and riots are by no means of frequent occurrence.

A stranger, however, on his arrival in Barbados,

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has his repose greatly disturbed by the negroes, who sit up during the greater part of the moonlight nights, chattering together, and telling “ nancy stories,” on the door-steps.—A nancy story is nothing more or less than a tale of ghosts and goblins, which pass with the negroes by the appellation of Jumbees.

A Frenchman, when speaking of the moon in England, is said to have remarked, “Ah, mon Dieu ! mais ce n’est pas comme notre lune de Paris!”—and notwithstanding he has been much laughed at for the expression, I am more than half tempted to make the same observation of the moon in the West Indies.

The moon itself is doubtless the same every where; but the heaviness of the atmosphere, combined with the black smoke and fog of London, greatly obscures its brilliancy, and gives it an appearance, altogether different from that which it has in Paris, and still more in the West Indies.—There, nothing can be more beautiful than a moonlight night; and the black and colored inhabitants of the towns appear to delight in it; as they may always be observed walking till a late hour, enjoying the scene, and taking the evening air. They have, however, a superstitious idea, that it is both dangerous and unhealthy to walk by moonlight, without a covering for their heads : and on such excursions, they are generally seen carrying their umbrellas and parasols.

I should say there were some reason in apprehending dangerous consequences from walking by night, under the fall of a damp and heavy dew: and I

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should commend their prudence in carrying parasols, to defend themselves from the wet; but as all their objections are laid against the chaste and clear light of a beautiful and brilliant moon, I rather think their precautions merit the imputation of superstition. — In this respect, the blacks are even worse than the colored people ; and invariably, on moonlight nights, bind their handkerchiefs tight round their heads. I suppose they imagine this a preservative from danger; for afterwards they do not scruple to remain out of doors talking to each other till a late hour.

A Barbadian hates a methodist from his soul, and if perchance an unfortunate parson or two attempt a landing, their reception is none of the kindest.

These indefatigable and zealous sectarians, however, succeeded in building a chapel; but their reign was of short duration, for the enraged Barbadians levelled it with the ground, and heaped some injurious epithets, and still more injurious blows, upon the head and shoulders of its founder. This was a mean and dirty act, and those engaged in the affair are deserving of any thing but credit, and certainly may not be commended, either for their moderation or their generosity. During my residence in the colony, two clergymen of this sect arrived from one of the other islands, and landed in disguise. They were, however, discovered, and as soon as their occupation was known, they were speedily forced to take refuge from the popular fury, in the house of a charitable individual, until they could succeed in re-embarking on

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board the little vessel that had brought them thither.

During their short stay, many persons, in their rage, had written with chalk on the blank walls, and on the doors of many houses in the Bay ;—“ What shall “ we do with them ?” and dark hints about tar and feathers had been given by more than one of the nontolerating inhabitants.—I am not a methodist myself, heaven forbid ! yet I can see no reason why the missionaries should be excluded from Barbados more than from the other islands, where it must be confessed, even if they have mingled with it a slight portion of harm, they have nevertheless done much good. There is much to be done yet, in the West Indies, on the score of morality and religion ; and I will maintain that it is better that the negroes should be taught by catholics, or by methodists, than that they should be left untaught; better that they should follow either of these religions, than that they should follow no religion at all; and at present there are not sufficient members of the protestant church to do half that is requisite in the colonies. I think, however, that all persons, whether missionaries or otherwise, who go to the West Indies with a view of imparting Christian knowledge to the slaves, or who are expected to hold any influence over their minds, should be men, not only of good education, but of sound character and judgment; without these, the best motives may be productive of the worst effects, and those who were intended to be taught, may be found to have been misled, and their minds wavering between a sense of right and wrong.

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There are now, including all, fifteen or sixteen places of worship in Barbados; a great number for so small a colony: and the Bishop deserves every praise, for his exertions in propagating the Christian religion throughout all the islands.

There is a pretty strong militia force in Bridgetown, consisting of all the free male inhabitants, between the ages of eighteen and fifty. These are regularly paraded and reviewed, at stated periods; and there are several battalions, which in point of equipment and good discipline, do not fall far short of our regiments of the line.

There are others, however, that repair to the ground in tattered garments, of which the original red has changed into a non-describable colour; and who not only are, but promise long to remain, totally unacquainted with the profession of arms.

Often have I been standing near them, when drawn up in line, and the officer in a tolerably audible voice, commanded them to “ Right face.” Scarcely was the word pronounced, when the major part of the corps, as if by instinct, faced mechanically to the left: and immediately after, when desired to shoulder arms, the same unfortunate individuals, by a sudden and irretrievable motion, allowed their muskets to fall to the ground ; nay, on one occasion, I have been told (nevertheless I will not vouch for the truth of the assertion) that they were even known to mistake the words “ stand at ease, ” for “ fall on your knees ;” and whilst some, glad of a few minutes respite, obeyed the command as they should have done; others put

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themselves in a posture, by which they were enabled either to resist the cavalry, or to betake themselves to prayer, as the urgency of the occasion might require.

In Barbados, besides the foot regiments, they have also a tolerable body of horse militia, which are handsomely equipped, and cut a good figure on parade.

The infantry have formed their square, and they are now galloping on to the charge; in the mean time I will beg my readers to gallop on to the next chapter.

G

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CHAPTER XII. SUGAR MAKING.

“ Sugar,—the native salt of the sugar-cane, obtained by “ the expression and evaporation of its juice. ” Johnson's Dictionary.

compliance with my friend Phillipson’s request, I accompanied him a second time on a visit to Colville Estate. The excursion promised pleasure to us both, although our motives for going differed widely.

Phillipson’s heart had hardly been at ease since he had encountered Mr. Merrythought’s amiable daughter ; and my reader may attribute his anxiety to pay another visit to her father, chiefly to the effect which the charms and graces of this fairy personage had made upon the mind of the young and gallant captain. As for me, I only desire to witness the process of sugar making; which, though not altogether so interesting as a love scene before marriage, may perhaps be permitted to claim the attention of the reader, as much as a love scene would do after the above-mentioned venerable ceremony had taken place. Well then, we made all sail for Colville Estate, and soon found the port. On this occasion, we rode to the house direct; for Phillipson did not, as before, think we should find the worthy manager at the works.—As fate would have IN

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it, he was right in his conjectures; Mr. Merrythought was “ chez lui,” and received us with much kindness. He said, they were just going to commence making sugar; and if we would accompany him to the works, we should have an opportunity of observing the whole process. I gladly accepted the proposal; but my friend, who had seen it all before, declared his visit was to the ladies; and preferred remaining with them till our return.

I therefore accompanied the manager to the works of the estate; and now my readers “ shall see vat dey shall see!”

The works of Colville Estate, which may be taken as a model of the other properties of Barbados, consisted of a mill, a boiling-house, a curing house, a still-house, outbuildings for the reception of trash, and a place, in which the coopers of the estate manufactured the sugar hogsheads and rum puncheons.

I was first taken to the mill, which was worked by water, conveyed to it from a running stream in the vicinity. They were here grinding the canes very rapidly, as they came from the fields in bullockcarts, where a certain number of negroes were employed in cutting them.—An overseer was superintending and directing the slaves who worked at the mill.

I will here take the opportunity to explain the difference between an overseer and a manager.—There are usually two, and sometimes three overseers, and one manager on every estate.

The manager superintends the whole, and the G 2

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overseers look to the different departments of the estate under his direction. The situation of overseer is by no means enviable; nevertheless it has been the birth of all managers, and of many wealthy proprietors, before they attained their present dignity. In this, as in every other situation in life, it is impossible to begin at the top of the tree.—An overseer in the Leeward Islands is the same as a bookkeeper in Jamaica; and the respective duties of these persons will be more fully discussed hereafter: but to return to the mill.

The mill then consisted of three perpendicular rollers placed close together, and turned by the working of other machinery. The method of grinding is perfectly simple:—negroes are stationed on either side of the mill; one of these places the canes, —which are cut short, and handed to him ten or a dozen at a time,—at the mouth of the mill, where they are drawn in and ground between the first and second rollers; they then pass round, and receive another compression between the second and third rollers, from which they are taken by the slave stationed on the opposite side, and thrown in heaps upon the ground. These heaps of ground canes are carried away by carts or negroes, and deposited in the houses, or rather sheds, for the reception of trash.

The negro, whose business it is to place the canes in the mill, is subject to some danger, unless very careful. An accident of a serious nature occurred some time back, on an estate in one of the islands :— a slave having pushed the canes too far in got his

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hand caught, and his whole arm was literally ground off before they could stop the mill.

The juice pressed from the canes flows into the receiver, whence it is conveyed to a cistern in the boiling-house, by means of a wooden pipe, lined with lead, and somewhat resembling our water spouts.

This juice is a very healthy and grateful beverage; and the negroes, who drink immense quantities of it during the season of crop, grow as fat as pigs.

We next repaired to the boiling-house; and here the scene that presented itself was totally different from that at the mill.

The boiling-house was a long building ; on one side of which was a cistern, or receiver of the canejuice, clarifiers, and four copper-caldrons, for the purpose of boiling the said liquor; and on the other, a row of large wooden trays, made on the same principle as the small trays in which the town negroes carry about their articles for sale; the length and breadth of these trays might be about eight feet by six, and their depth nearly a foot: they are called coolers, and receive the boiled liquor from the coppers.

With these materials, the process is thus carried on : — the cane-juice passes from the cistern into the clarifiers; and from the clarifiers into the coppers : when the negroes, who are employed in stirring, scumming, &c. ladle it, as it becomes sufficiently clear, from boiler to boiler, until it is at length fine enough to be deposited in the last of all, from which it is conveyed to the coolers, and left to harden into

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sugar; it is next put into hogsheads and carried to the curing-house.

The curing-house is a large building, below which is a cistern of considerable size. It has an open floor, being without boards, upon the thick beams which cross it above the cistem; and, after the cooper has bored a number of holes in the bottoms of the hogsheads, they are ranged in rows upon these beams, and all the molasses they contain drains through the holes, and falls into the cistern below: after this, the casks are filled up and sent to town, to be embarked on board the vessels that are to convey them to England.

The labour in the boiling-house is more hot than heavy, and the slaves at the coppers are all lively and in good spirits. The presence of the overseer by no means restrains the free and merry clatter of their tongues, or the loud and glad laugh which bursts forth at times, at some of their own witticisms, which I confess are rather difficult to understand : — in fact, while at their work, they are always talking or singing, and each appears to do that which is most pleasing to himself.

When we entered, “ How d’ye, massa ?—how d’ye, “ massa ?” burst from a dozen mouths at once.— These how d'yes were intended for the manager: a different reception was reserved for me. — “ New buckra ! — new buckra !” said a man, advancing towards me ; and chalking the ground on which I had been just standing, he looked knowingly in my face, as if expecting me to pay something for my first

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“ entree” into the boiling-house.— I gave him a trifle; and I have since learnt that it is customary for all strangers to do the same ; for the slaves think themselves privileged to make all new comers “ pay their footing.”

After I had been thus entertained by witnessing the progress of sugar-making, and Mr. Merrythought had given the necessary directions to the overseers, we mounted our horses, and returned to the great house, where I found Phillipson had been well entertained by the ladies. We now proposed taking our departure; but our friends pressed us so warmly to remain with them till the following day, that having no other engagement, we could not refuse to comply.

My friend was well pleased with this arrangement, as it enabled him to advance further in the favour of Miss Merrythought; and I, for my own part, felt an extreme desire to make a tour of the estate, and to visit the negro huts on the plantation ; an indulgence which the good manager promised to grant me on the morrow. We agreed, therefore, to remain; and after partaking of a comfortable family dinner, and passing a very agreeable evening in the society of our friends, we retired at an early hour to rest.—Reader, “ go and do thou likewise.”

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CHAPTER XIII. NEGRO HUTS, HOSPITALS, AND NURSERIES.

“ Each had a separate hut.” “

“ Their hospitals are cleanly, and the patients are well tended.”

“ They have public nurseries, where all parents are obliged “ to send their children.”

Swift.

enjoyed a peaceful and quiet sleep during the night, I managed to rise as early as five o’clock, and was tempted by the refreshing coolness of the morning air, to bend my steps towards the bath of the estate, which was some distance from the great house, and one of the finest I saw in the West Indies.

I had just finished bathing, and was about to take a little walk, before I returned to the houses, when, to my surprise, Mr. Merrythought rode up to me, inquiring how I had passed the night. “ As well as “ I could wish,” was my reply; “ but I did not “ expect to see you here; do you always rise so “ early ? I thought I should be the first person “ moving on the estate.” “ Why,” said he, “ we managers are obliged to “ rise earlier than you town people. I have been “ riding about the estate during the last hour, and I “ make a point of doing the same every morning, for HAVING

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“ I find it very conducive to health, and it gives me “ besides, an opportunity of surveying the crops on “ the plantation.”

Here the worthy manager dismounted, and giving his horse to a boy, desired him to carry it home: he then took my arm, and we strolled through one or two cane fields, conversing on various topics, of a nature totally uninteresting to the reader ; after which, we returned to the great house, where we found the ladies, and my friend Phillipson, enjoying the morning air in the cool and pleasant gallery that fronted the dwelling. We had not long joined them, before the servant announced breakfast, and the welcome news struck upon my listening ear “ like glad tidings of great joy.” Oh, breakfast, breakfast! thou art indeed a goodly meal; thou bringest gladness into the heart of the famished; “ thou fillest the hungry with good things.” Brotherly reader, I am a very goodnatured and fellow-feeling kind of a personage: therefore I will not torment thee with a description of delicacies which, I am perfectly convinced, are entirely out of thy reach : I will pass the breakfast then, merely remarking, that it was eaten, enjoyed, and digested, before we set out on our visit to the negro huts, and other outbuildings of the Colville Estate.

Mr. Merrythought led the way to the houses of the slaves, through a very beautiful avenue of palm and cocoanut trees; and the huts themselves were built amongst a quantity of other trees, and surrounded by a copse, of the richest and most varie-

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gated foliage. When we entered this little shrubbery, I found the huts as far from what I expected, as the little dwellings themselves were from the north pole.

The greater number of them were built of wattling, lined on the inside with a plaster of clay, and roofed with a thatchwork of palm or cocoanut branches: some, however, were of wood, and others had shingled roofs. In my description of the Barbadian houses, I omitted to mention, that American shingles were the materials generally used for roofing, instead of tiles or slates.

Each hut was divided into two rooms ; the one a bedroom, and the other a hall; which, in the West Indies, is synonymous with parlour. These chambers are furnished with necessary conveniences : one containing a bed and table, is the sleeping room allotted to the parents ; and the hall, which is stocked with tables, stools, chairs, &c., has usually a long bench, such as may be seen in a military guard house, on which the young children, if there be any, take their nightly rest. I also observed that none of these little dwellings were without their household Gods, in numbers proportionate to the circumstances of their owners : these consisted of a cup and saucer, a mug or two, a knife and fork, a tin can, a pail which contained the water, and some half dozen of calabashes.

A calabash in shape somewhat resembles a gourd, although it sometimes grows to a much larger size; it contains a milky pith, full of seeds, which the negroes scoop clean out of a small hole, which they

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cut in the top : it then serves as a bottle to contain rum, &c.; or by sawing it in half, they are provided with two vessels, which answer the purposes of basins or dishes. These calabashes are sometimes dyed by the slaves, who carve figures on them with a regularity and order that display much cleverness and ingenuity;—but to return to the huts.

I observed that some of them were furnished much better than others, and this I believe arose, rather from the disposition of their owners to be neat and cleanly, than from their superiority of privileges over the other slaves. The mechanics of the estate, however, such a masons, coopers, carpenters, &c., have certainly an opportunity, from the knowledge of their trade, of making their abodes more comfortable and convenient than the rest. One I particularly remarked, which contained a neat four post bedstead, of polished hard wood of the country, somewhat resembling cedar; on which was a good mattrass stuffed with dried plantain leaves, with bolster and pillows: there was also a little shelf, on which stood a basin and a jug; a wooden chair, and a box, painted green, for containing the wearing apparel.

The hall was furnished with half a dozen chairs and two tables; on one of these stood a pair of decanters, with some tumblers and wine glasses, and about eight cups and saucers of different patterns; while on a shelf above were ranged some dozen of plates and dishes.—There were two framed pictures hanging in the room, and many more without frames, pasted against the walls.

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The negroes cook their little messes before their doors, in stewpans, which, by the way, are very commodious articles.

To each hut is attached a small garden, which is generally pretty well cultivated, for the slaves have always time to attend to their little portions of ground; they grow yams, taniers, plantains, bannanas, sweet potatoes, okros, pineapples, and Indian corn ; and the luxuriant foliage that shades their little dwellings from the burning rays and scorching heat of a tropic sun, usually consists of trees that bear sweet and pleasant fruits, such as the mango, the Java plum, the bread-fruit, the soursop, the sapadillo, the pomegranate, &c., and other grateful and delicious fruits, with which nature has so bountifully stocked the West India Islands.

In every garden I observed a hencoop, which formed a receptacle for some half dozen of fowls, and in many, a pigsty that might have contained a pair of those great grunting gormandizers, yclept pig and boar (of which it is a bore to read), lying on a litter of straw, and surrounded by another litter of those sweet, soothing, sensitive, and sagacious sucklers, which are said to resemble a fortnight, because they go week, week, and are the only jewels which a Jew may not touch.

There were also, near each hut, goats tied under the shade of some tree or other, and feeding on the green herbage that grew around it: I observed, that while the kids were grazing or taking a nap, an old

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negro woman was stationed near, to watch that they were not kidnapped.

Mr. Merrythought now thought I was growing too merry on a serious subject, and accordingly proposed that we should leave the huts, and proceed to the hospital, or as it was called by the negroes, the sickhouse.

The sickhouse was a cool, capacious, and convenient building; well adapted to the purpose for which it was used. I was glad to find that it contained very few patients, and that those few were treated in the kindest and most humane way. They were attended by a coloured man belonging to the estate, who always acted under the superintendance of the physician. This man is called the sickhouse doctor, and is perfectly capable of treating a simple case, and of administering proper medicines to those negroes whose indisposition or complaint is of a slight and trifling nature; besides this man, I saw an old woman in the hospital, and the manager informed me that her duty was to attend to the little wants of the patients, to cook their victuals, and to keep the sickhouse in a cleanly condition. The physician visits the sickhouse three times a week, and whatever he may prescribe for the invalids, whether it be wine, cordial, soup, or any other luxury, is most scrupulously given: in such cases, expense is never considered, for both the life and labour of the slave are matters of value and importance to the owner; and interest,—the grand and all-prevailing principle of self-interest, independant of humanity, calls upon

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him to endeavour to save the one, and to render his negro fit for the continuation of the other. In cases of the slightest danger, therefore, the doctor is sent for, and obliged immediately to attend; when, if the peril prove greater than was expected, he continues with his patient till he sees a change for the better; and if no such favourable alteration take place, the invalid is sure to go home before the doctor.

Oh ye whose hearts are bent upon doing good, ye whose motives are pure and unsophisticated, ye who would relieve real misery, ye who would pour a balm to close the wounds of hearts that have been crushed, and spirits broken by the curse of poverty and want; ye who would have mothers bless and children pray for you, turn not your hearts to the emancipation of negroes, but look rather to emancipate from their woes such of your own countrymen as are oppressed with the horrors of poverty, or the miseries of disease ; of those who know what it is to be poor in the midst of wealth, and famishing in the midst of plenty. The slaves, although in a degraded state, are not yet sufficiently capable of feeling their degradation; as they are well treated, they are for the most part happy and contented; at any rate, their wants are supplied; they have food for their bodies, and covering for their heads. But there are Englishmen, free bom Englishmen, who have starving wives and starving families, with no food but their misery, no bed but the cold earth, no covering but the canopy of heaven;—first, then, look to such as these, and extend to them humanity and relief: for

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what think ye of the charity of that man who would snatch their last morsel from the mouths of his own children to bestow it on the offspring of a stranger?

I am no friend to slavery; heaven forbid ! I am its unalterable and unbending enemy: nevertheless, I know that there is a time for all things ; and I know, too, that the time for slave emancipation is not yet come.

We next repaired to the nursery, which was a large and very airy room, full of young negroes.

Some old and stout enough to crawl about, or even to stand upon their legs, and others lying kicking in their trays, which stood scattered about the floor, and which, for safety, are considerably better than a cot or cradle, since no harm could accrue to the child if he chanced to roll out. An old nurse, who sat in one corner of the room, had the care of these naked younglings ; and truly they thrived well under her charge: from the youngest to the eldest, from the fairest to the blackest, all were plump as puddings, and as fat as pigs. I would that they had resembled this latter animal in their grunting only; but alas, they must needs imitate their squeaking also; and mine ears were regaled with squalling and mewling, to a miracle; also the tinkling of a little bell, and the beating of a little drum, which some lover of music had presented to a pair of this young and promising assembly. There was the song celestial, and the tattoo terrestrial, and the squeak direct; ma foi! I had never heard such a concert of vocal and instrumental music before; and heaven grant that I may

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never hear it again. Barnet could form no idea of it; Bishop himself would have been astounded; Lee would have kept on the weather side of such a band ; and even the apollonicon of Flight and Robson, which contains the sound of every instrument, could hardly have produced such sounds as those.

In goodly sooth, they were a noisy group, and I blessed my fortunate stars as soon as I got out of hearing of their clatter ; nevertheless, they had sleek skins and glossy, and might have merited more than some of our modern sages the appellation of “ shining lights in a dark generation.”

It was now getting late, and we therefore returned to the great house, where we partook of a luncheon which the ladies had prepared for us, with their usual kindness : our hospitable friends even pressed us to dine with them again ; this we, however, refused ; and after expressing our high sense of their kind attentions, we took our departure for, and after an oppressive ride, arrived without further accident, in the homes, not of our worthy and important ancestors, kind reader, but of our still more worthy and important selves.

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CHAPTER XIV. CODRINGTON COLLEGE.

— “ Tu* Vitam (si quid mea carmina possunt) Accipies, populique encomia sera futuri; “ Quem varias edoctum Artes, Studiisque Minervæ “ Omnibus, ornatum Marti Rhedycina furenti “ Credidit invita, et tanto se jactat Alumno. “ Hunc nempe ardorem atque immensos pectoris æstus “ Non jubar arctorim, aut nostri penuria cæli, “ Sed plaga torridior qua sol intentius omnes “ Effundit radios, totique obnoxia Phœbo “ India progenuit, tenerisque incoxit ab annis “ Virtutem immodicam et generosae incendia mentis.”

Addison.

“

a preceding chapter I gave some account of the situation of Codrington College, with a brief description of the building, and did not quit so interesting a subject without promising my readers to resume it at some future period.

I will now keep my word. The remarks, however, which I meant to have made, respecting the institution, and the intentions of its founder, are rendered unnecessary, by the quotation of some public documents, with which I shall present my reader in their stead. These papers contain extracts from IN

* Insig. Dom. Christoph. Codrington. unus ex Regii Satellitii Præfectis.

H

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annual reports, relative to Codrington College, with two views of the building itself; and I need make no apology for inserting them in this work, since they cannot fail of creating the greatest interest in the public mind ; containing, as they do, the most important information respecting an institution which is the only one of its kind founded in the West Indies. The first of these reports was of the year 1710, and they were continued annually to the year 1828.* I shall however limit these extracts to the time when they began to excite most interest, which was from the years 1819 to 1820—which state that “ at the commencement of the last century, General “ Codrington bequeathed his two plantations in the “ island of Barbados to the Society, with direction “ ‘ that a convenient number of professors and scho“ lars should be maintained there, leaving the parti“ culars of the constitution to the Society, composed “ of wise and good men since that period, after “ many difficulties, arising from law-suits with the “ executor, the erection of a college at considerable “ expense, and the devastations occasioned by fre“ quent hurricanes, an establishment has been formed “ and supported with the produce of the estates, con“ sisting of a president and twelve scholars; stipends “ being allowed to those who may be desirous of pro“ secuting their studies in England, either in divinity, “ law, or physic. A minister has also been provi“ ded for the negroes, whose sole attention is to be * I believe that annual statements are still made respecting the institution by those to whom the College is entrusted.

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“ directed to their improvement in moral and reli“ gious knowledge. Schools upon the national sys“ tem have been formed, under the superintendance “ of the chaplain, and a code of regulations has been “ prepared with the sanction of the attorneys, by “ which sufficient time will be allowed the negroes, “ during the week, for the cultivation of their own “ provision-grounds, to enable them to attend to the “ religious observance of the Sabbath without in“ terruption.”

By these regulations it is first resolved—“ That “ divine service be performed in the chapel of the “ college on the Sunday morning, at half-past ten, “ according to the rites of the established church, “ with a familiar discourse to the slaves on the “ doctrines of the gospel, and their consequent duties “ as Christians: and again in the afternoon, at two “ o’clock; when, after prayers, the scripture shall “ be explained to them by way of exposition ; or the “ Common Prayer illustrated; or the ancient and “ useful mode of catechising adopted. By this ar“ rangement, those who may have been unavoidably “ prevented attending in the morning will have the “ opportunity of repairing their loss, and the neigh“ bouring negroes may, if so disposed, be accom“ modated. “ That there shall continue to be a school on each “ estate, receiving children from the period of distinct “ articulation to the age of ten :—the hours of at“ tendance daily, from nine in the morning till one “ at noon. That commencing with a prayer and the H 2

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creed, they shall proceed to their ordinary place of study, agreeably with the national system, and close with a repetition of the Ten Commandments and a hymn. “ That writing and arithmetic be excluded. “ That there shall also be a Sunday School for “ the accommodation of those who, either from being “ superannuated, or from having neglected past op“ portunities, may desire to benefit by the advantages “ now afforded them ; and particularly as a plan for “ continuing those in habits of useful knowledge, “ who shall hereafter quit the school. “ That it shall be conducted on the plan of the “ daily schools, under the superintendance of the “ minister and schoolmistresses. “ That Baptism shall be readily administered to “ all children presented by their parents; and to all “ adults who give a satisfactory reason for their de“ siring this sacrament. “ That the Lord’s Supper shall be administered “ once a month to those who have given previous “ notice of their intention to the minister, and justify “ his acceptance of them by the improvement of “ their lives, and devoutness at worship. “ That in case of a funeral, the immediate relatives “ continue to have the whole day granted them; “ and that labour shall cease at five o’clock on the “ estate where the funeral occurs, in order that all “ may have the opportunity of attending a Christian “ ceremony, so peculiarly calculated to awaken re“ ligious feeling. “ “ “ “

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“ That marriage be encouraged among the slaves, “ in conformity with the rites of the Church of “ England, as one of the most effectual means of “ refining and strengthening natural attachments, “ and thereby paving the way to virtuous habits. “ That it be considered a part of the minister’s “ duty to attend the sick, aged, and infirm, at the “ hospital, or at their own houses, and afford the “ consolations of religion by his advice and conver“ sation. “ That the slaves on the two estates continue to “ have the full enjoyment of the Saturday, from one “ o'clock, for attending to their own immediate con“ cerns, so that the Sabbath may be considered by “ them (not as heretofore, a day of bodily rest, but) “ a holy season set apart for the improvement of the “ soul. “ That no species of labour be allowed on a “ Sunday which can possibly be prevented by some “ arrangement for its performance on the other days “ of the week.”

Extract from the Report of 1822.

Society and College estates, situated in the “ eastward division of Barbados, in the parish of “ St. John, were left by General Codrington, at the “ commencement of the preceding century, in trust “ to the ‘ SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE The grand and “ GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS.’ “ immediate object of their bequest was, the erection “ of a college on the property, established as a

“

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public institution for the advancement of learning, and to be maintained by the labour of slaves.

Although deriving some advantages from two governesses set over the young, and from the occasional instruction of the ministers entrusted with the care of the scholars, the slaves on these estates were never provided with any regular system of religious teaching until the year 1818. At this period the increased funds of the property enabled the trustees to send out a clergyman, in full orders, on a liberal establishment. His views were to be exclusively directed to the promotion of Christian knowledge and Christian habits amongst the slaves of their estates; and he was required to convey to the Society the apparent effects of his superintendance. Having filled the situation nearly five years, he is able to bear testimony to the following facts, with regard to their religious advantage and general condition. “ Religious Instruction.—Divine service is performed on the Sabbath, commencing at half-past eleven o’clock, strictly according to the rubric of the church of England; and a familiar lecture is delivered on the faith and duties of the gospel.

The attendance is now regular and full from the adult estate negroes; those who are present receiving tickets, which, on being delivered to the manager, secure to them the enjoyment of the Saturday afternoon next following from one o’clock.

Their children, seventy-one in number, in a neat uniform dress, always attend ; seats in a particular

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“ part of the chapel being provided for them. Many “ of the neighbouring free-coloured persons and “ slaves are in the habit of frequenting this chapel; “ and the communicants amounted latterly to the “ number of thirty-one. The chapel is built of “ stone, and accommodates from two hundred and “ fifty to three hundred souls. “ Education of Children.—The children, between “ four and ten years of age, meet together at a neat “ little schoolhouse near the chapel, half way be“ tween the two estates. Their number at present is “ forty-eight. They are taught to read, on the na“ tional plan, and remain under the tuition of a “ highly respectable governess from nine till one “ every day, Saturday excepted. Those who are “ between the age of ten and fifteen (twenty-three in “ number at present) are assembled on the Sabbath, “ and are catechetically instructed by the chaplain, “ in the body of the chapel, for two hours previous “ to worship. The dayschool children are at the “ same time in the school-room, under the tuition of “ their governess. A comfortable apartment, appro“ priated to her use, leads out of the school-room; “ and a stipend, with allowances, is granted by the “ Society. “ Habits of the Slaves.—There is but one instance “ of marriage among them, legally performed : and “ the chaplain ardently looks forward to the influ“ ence of religion in putting an end to polygamy, in “ promoting a desire and suitable reverence for this “ hallowed band. Although accompanied with no

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“ solemnity, their connexions are by no means to be “ regarded in the light of promiscuous concubinage. “ Many instances of connubial fidelity through life “ are to be met with; yet, from the unfortunate habit “ of living with more than one wife, the union is, in “ other cases, too frequently violated. Baptism is “ administered to all the infants, on application made “ by the parents, and to all adults, after due examina“ tion and instruction. Their behaviour at public “ worship is reverent, and, in many cases, devout. “ Their desire for instruction is manifest ; and they “ are heard conversing on subjects, which discourses “ from the pulpit, or the reading of their children, “ have suggested to their minds. As to their gene“ ral conduct, the manager has repeatedly declared “ his conviction, that the introduction of Christianity “ has produced much beneficial effect, obvious to “ himself. In seasons of illness or distress they “ are visited by the chaplain, at the hospital or at “ their own houses ; and if there be a prisoner under “ confinement for some great offence, he is attended “ with reproof and exhortation. They seem to feel “ great confidence in their minister, and often seize “ opportunities of having intercourse with him; and “ their numerous little presents and sorrow at parting “ with him, show their attachment in a most affecting “ manner. “ General Treatment of the Negroes. — Previously “ to the commencement of their daily work, warm “ tea is handed round to every individual. Their “ scene of labour, from sunrise to sunset, is alleviated

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“ by two regular suspensions of half an hour for their “ breakfast, and an hour and a half for their dinner. “ This latter meal is dressed for them against their “ return at noon ; so that the interval is passed in “ refreshment, without care or fatigue. While occu“ pied in the field, draughts of water are constantly “ supplied by a person appointed for that purpose; “ and in more wearisome work, a refreshing beverage “ of punch is very frequently mixed and sent out to “ them. Their labour has been much lightened by “ the introduction of the plough; and it has been for “ years the object of the Agricultural Society to “ devise and encourage measures for diminishing “ manual toil. Punishments of a severe nature are “ very rarely inflicted ; and the general substitution “ of confinement for corporal chastisement, has been “ found to answer all the ends of correction. Every “ mother having eight children alive, has the undis“ puted enjoyment of the whole of Thursday : and “ the Saturday afternoon throughout the year is “ allotted to those who have three living. The alter“ nate Saturday afternoon only is granted to the other “ labourers, during the crop. The hospital is a new “ and very commodious building. There are five “ apartments, so constructed as to admit safe ventila“ tions, opening into a gallery for the use of convales“ cents. There is another division—a lying-in room; “ but it is entirely at the option of the mother to oc“ cupy this or her own house during the month. The “ visits of the apothecary are daily, and a nurse at“ tends constantly on the sick. In cases of dangerous

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“ illness, the very best medical or surgical aid is called “ in without hesitation, and without regard to expense. “ Very little labour is exacted from pregnant females; “ and great consideration shown them while nursing “ their children. Each child receives a supply of “ baby linen, and when a month old is presented with “ a dollar. There is a neat nursery, with a superin“ tendant, in which the young children are kept, “ while their mothers are engaged at their work. “ Here they remain during the day, accessible to “ their parents, till of an age fit to be employed in “ plucking grass, sweeping the door, &c. The por“ tion of food allotted them, besides the meal daily “ cooked for them, is so abundant, that they are ena“ bled by the superfluity to pay for making their “ clothes, to raise stock, and to sell a part at the town “ market. “ Their houses are generally of stone, with a “ thatched roof. Around them is a patch of land, “ under neat cultivation; and this little property “ they have permission to leave, at their decease, to “ any relative or friend, being a slave on the estate. “ At the end of the crop, a day is given up en“ tirely to rejoicing. They have a dance in the “ yard, which the attorney, chaplain, and others are “ invited to witness; and a comfortable dinner is “ provided for them on the occasion. On the death “ of any one, the near relatives have the intermediate “ time between the decease and the interment; and “ all on the estate leave their work one hour earlier “ to attend the funeral.

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“ These regulations being pursued under the humane direction of Forster Clarke, Esq. attorney, and Mr. Samuel Hinkson, manager, there are now fifty-three more slaves on the estate than there were in the year 1815, though three mulattoes have purchased their liberty, and no purchases been made. A disposition on the side of the proprietor to impart, and the slave to receive, religious instruction is evident; nor can there be a doubt but that an efficient system of religious tuition, interwoven with some judicious immunities, under the guidance of clergymen of the Established Church, through the subordinate agency of catechists, will be readily embraced by most proprietors, and will promote the gradual civilization and eternal good “ J. H. PINDER.” of the slaves themselves.

Mr. Pinder's Letter to the Society's Secretary, previous to his return to Barbados, which he had been necessitated to leave, on account of his bad health . “ REVEREND SIR,

January 22, 1824.

“ ALTHOUGH urged by want of health to leave Bar“ bados for a season, I do but justice to my own “ feelings, in declaring the affectionate interest which “ the state of my congregation has continued to ex“ cite in my heart. It is truly gratifying to me that “ I am able to lay before the Society extracts from “ various letters, expressive of the advancing influ“ ence of Christianity among the adults, as well as “ the younger members. Having, before my depar“ ture, obtained the sanction of the Society, in re-

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“ questing the Rev. Mr. Parkinson to officiate as “ chaplain in my absence, I quitted my native island “ March 25th, and arrived in England May 7th, “ following. As Mr. Parkinson had not reached “ Barbados at the period of my sailing, I obtained “ permission from the governors acting on the spot, “ to leave my flock under the charge of the Rev. “ Mr. Gittens and Rev. Mr. Ostrehan, rector and “ curate of the parish in which the Codrington pro“ perty is situated. These gentlemen were so kind “ as to continue their labours in my behalf, until the “ arrival of Mr. Parkinson; and it was no trifling “ satisfaction to me to learn, from Mr. Ostrehan, that “ regular attendance and general correctness of con“ duct were observable during his and Mr. Gitten's “ ministrations. “ Mr. Parkinson arrived May 28th at the place “ of his destination, having been detained at Liver“ pool by some necessary repairs of the vessel in “ which he had taken his passage, — the only one “ sailing at the time. He writes thus, in a letter “ dated June 20th: ‘ I arrived on the 28th May, “ and lost as little time as possible in taking your “ place at the Society (plantation). The negroes on “ both estates were very glad to see me; and it was “ very gratifying to me to find myself such a favourite “ among them. They inquired after you, and seemed “ disappointed that I could give them no account of “ you. I had a very full chapel; in fact, it was “ quite full both of whites and blacks. They were “ all very attentive. I preached on 1st John, chap. i. “ ver. 8 and 9; and not only agreeably to your di-

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“ rections, but to the suggestions of my own judg“ ment, I wrote in the simplest style, and used the “ utmost plainness of language. “ ‘ Before chapel, I examined both schools (Sun“ day-school, and first class of day-school) together. “ I heard them read the 2d chapter of St. Mark, “ and heard the catechism broke into short ques“ tions. I then examined the younger ones in their “ spelling, and heard them read the parable of the “ rich man and Lazarus, which they did very well. “ Of the Sunday scholars, some were very perfect in “ their catechism, others by no means so. I was “ very much pleased with their reading, with the “ exception of one or two. Those that repeated “ their collects (the children in first class of daily I was especially “ school) did so very well. “ pleased with Mary Douglas; she is a very nice “ girl, modest, and discharges her duty as monitor “ admirably well. On the next Sunday, I went “ through the same duty in the school, and preached “ on Luke xxii. ver. 19, to a very large congrega“ tion. My first sermon was merely introductory, “ my last on the Sacrament, which having been cele“ brated but once since you left, I thought proper to “ administer on that day. I had seven white and “ fifteen colored communicants; among whom I re“ cognized some of your servants, and some of “ Addoh’s family. Miss Puckerin, the schoolmis“ tress, I have found, as you describe her, a very “ modest, civil, and diligent young woman. I do “ not know what I should do without her. Robert,

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“ the clerk, (a free-colored man, formerly a slave “ on the estate,) I find an able assistant: his services “ are invaluable. “ ‘ August 21. The negroes on these estates “ have almost all had the influenza, especially the “ little ones; consequently the school has been “ thinly attended. Indeed, for the last fortnight, “ Miss Puckerin has been ill with it, so much so “ that she was not able to keep school; and on “ Sunday I was obliged to take the school myself. “ Circumstanced as I am, all that I can pledge my“ self to do, is to visit the school as often as I can. “ To spend the whole day, that is to say, from half“ past nine to one, whenever the boys at Codrington “ College) have a holiday, as was the case to-day. “ On Sunday I can be punctual, and indeed hitherto “ have been so ; beginning at nine, and catechising “ them, &c., till half-past eleven. Robert is very “ useful to me. I still continue to have good con“ gregations: even last Sunday, which was a day of “ rain, I had above seventy. I dare say that I am “ chiefly indebted to Hinkson’s strictness about the “ tickets for this. (Each person attending chapel “ receives a ticket, as a pledge of obtaining the “ Saturday afternoon. All absentees must have “ tickets of absence.) There has been a consider“ able addition to the daily school since you left.—“ A man, of the name of James Carter, wishes to be “ admitted to the communion.— I told him that I “ should first make some inquiries as to his charac“ ter, regular attendance at chapel, &c., and if I

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“ should be satisfied, that I would, after some con“ versation with him on the subject, admit him to “ the table. “ ‘ Sept. 15. Things go on pretty much as usual; “ I continue to have very good congregations, and I “ have heard of no misconduct on the estates. I “ found the children, especially the Sunday scho“ lars, very irregular in their attendance, and gene“ rally very late. By application to the managers “ myself, and also to their parents, and by holding “ out threats to the children, I have got them to “ attend more regularly and earlier. I had two “ new communicants last Sacrament Sunday; one “ of them you know very well; he tells me his “ name is James Carter. Addoh’s family are regu“ lar, and behave with the greatest propriety. They “ seem to attend to me, and remember my sermons “ and texts. For this reason, I think them proper “ persons to consult with regard to my discourses, “ whether they are sufficiently plain. I can readily “ perceive, by these people, how easily a country “ clergyman may attach himself to his parishioners, “ by these pastoral visits. They beg their duty “ to you. “ ‘ October 13. The 10th of October (comme“ moration of the hurricane of 1780) was observed; “ the chapel was exceedingly full, but I observed “ more strangers than estate negroes. I have gene“ rally a large congregation of whites. Mr. Clarke “ and his family were there yesterday. I am teach“ ing the children a hymn for Advent. There are

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some of the little ones in the daily school, who in time will sing very well. Every one who has visited the chapel seems very much pleased; and Hinkson, the manager, assures me that the general character of the negroes had very much improved; that stealing, lying, and many other vices, which were very common on the estates are now almost unknown, or at least he has not detected any offenders for some time.’ “ October 27. Another letter from the acting: “ chaplain of this date, conveys the following intelli“ gence: ‘ I have the utmost pleasure and satisfac“ tion in informing you that things are going on “ very well on the estates. The negroes behaving, “ as Hinkson assures me, exceedingly well; and “ are very regular at chapel. Except twice, my “ chapel has been always filled ; sometimes many of “ them have not been able to get seats, and their “ behaviour is, upon the whole, extremely good.— “ There is one thing, however, which I have repeat“ edly spoken to them about, namely, coming in late “ to chapel. Many seldom come in till the Litany, “ others again not till after the Communion, though “ they have full time, for I never begin till half-past “ eleven, and sometimes a little later. The manager “ at the College is a civil, well-disposed young man, “ and very much inclined to forward our plans. I “ suggested to him the propriety of the children “ saying grace at meals, which he very readily con“ sented to, and adopted. On Sunday last I bap“ tized a great many children. I have had many “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

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“ conferences with Abbee Rose (slave at the college), “ who wishes to come to the table, and I am preparing “ her for Communion. Robert Moe, her husband, is “ also preparing for baptism. Addoh’s family set “ an excellent example to the rest of the congrega“ tion, by their attention and good behaviour.’ “ In a letter of a later date, Miss Puckerin, in one “ of her letters, mentions the arrival of Mr. Parkin“ son, and the faithful zeal shown by him in superin“ tending the school and congregation. “ October 27, she writes: ‘ There are now sixty “ in the day-school, and in my poor opinion, I think “ they do very well. I am sure if they do not im“ prove, it will not be for lack of my endeavours. It “ is a very pretty sight now to see them, as the num“ bers have increased. Some of them are very small “ indeed. Poor old Mary Moore (one of my earliest “ converts) still gets to chapel; but is hardly able “ to do so. I must conclude with prayers for your “ happy return.’ “ Robert, my clerk, writes thus, April 28th : ‘ Mr. “ Parkinson is not arrived yet, and we have never “ been able to keep morning service, in consequence “ of Mr. Gittens’s indisposition. Mr. Ostrehan is “ therefore obliged to do both; but he does it with “ that good nature and willingness which pleases “ every body that hears him, and would delight you. “ His sermons are very good and very plain. Dear “ Sir, it is impossible to tell you how I miss you, “ and how I long to see you; and all your congre“ gation, and all the visitors at your chapel; if I

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prayers and good wishes are to restore you to health, you have them in full. God grant that you may be restored to health, and to our prayers!

Your congregation now knows and feels the use of the good shepherd. As short as you have left Barbados, many of them have missed you. How many times it has been said, ‘ If Parson had been here, that never would have been: however, if it please God, he will return again !’ All of your congregation, Society and College, join me in their duty to you both. “ I remain, dear Sir, “ Your most obedient Servant, “

ROBERT CLARKE.”

“ The following extract is from a letter of Addoh’s “ son. His family are described in a former com“ munication made to the Society. They are free “ colored persons, possessed of a small, but comfort“ able share of property, and constant attendants at “ my chapel. “ ‘ James Edward to his reverend father. Sir, I “ joy to write to you of the regularity of the chapel “ since the clergyman has arrived. The first Sunday “ he arrived at the chapel, my mother was there, “ and my sisters; and they told me, as soon as they “ came home, of his plainness and instructions; and “ the chapel was full, and the congregation likes “ him very much; they all attend, Sir, very well“ My sisters and all the family join me in duty to

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“ you and all with you, and wish, through the grace “ of the Lord, you may recover, and return again, “ fresh and strong, to bring souls unto the Lord.’ “ I beg most earnestly to express my gratitude to “ the Society, for the provision so liberally made for “ my residence, by the directions which they have “ transmitted for the purchase of Mrs. Carter’s “ house. Its proximity to the scene of my duty, “ independently of its strength, size, and situation, “ will be highly advantageous; and it is my wish “ that the well-known fertility of the land, (formerly “ a part of the Society’s plantation, as I am informed,) “ may in process of time repay their liberality. It “ remains only for me, in conclusion, to entreat a “ continuance of the Society’s favours; to solicit “ their guiding counsels, and wise suggestions, in “ a season of so much difficulty ; and to assure them “ of my unabated desire to discharge faithfully the “ sacred duties of my office, which my departure “ from England, at an early period of the Spring, “ will enable me, under the blessing of Providence, “ shortly to resume. “ I am, Reverend Sirs, “ Your obedient Servant, “ 39, Nottingham Place.

“

JOHN

H.

PINDER.

”

The above documents, useful, entertaining, and interesting as they are, are nevertheless somewhat prosing; and although not incompatible with the spirit of a memoir, which treats solely on West India I 2

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affairs, they remind me of an ancient military cousin of mine, who was famous for relating, what he called “ long stories, and good ones,” concerning his exploits on the Continent; which his impatient hearers would gladly have exchanged for “ short stories, and bad ones.” Perhaps, too, some of my readers would rather con over one of mine own “ short chapters, ” about the fire of Bridgetown, or the fire of love, than peruse a long chapter of papers and documents; therefore, I will give them a few minutes respite; and before I produce the remainder of the said papers, will do my best to entertain them with the narrative of an interesting circumstance that verily and indeed did occur “ While I was living in the Western Isles.”

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CHAPTER XV. THE DESERTED.

“ “ “ “

“ She never told her love; But let concealment, like a worm i’the bud, Feed on her damask cheek ; she pin’d in thought, And with a green and yellow melancholy, Sat, like patience on a monument, smiling at grief.”

Shakespeare.

West India colony is never overburthened with news, and trifling incidents generally become the topics of conversation, when there are few matters of vital interest to attract the attention of the inhabitants : no inimitable forgeries, no monstrous thefts, no atrocious murders; a total want of new inventions, curious circumstances, and alarming accidents, such as are wont to occupy the minds of the people, and fill the columns of the newspapers of Old England. Indeed there is seldom any thing to talk about, save a little scandal; the arrival of some new governor ; the drenching of some unfortunate boat party; the appointment of a new commander in chief; the relieving an old garrison; the reviewing a body of militia troops ; a sermon preached by the Bishop ; a salute fired on the king’s birth-day, accession, coronation, or some event equally memorable, and, (I beg pardon, I had nearly omitted births, marriages, and deaths,) “ though last not least,” on this, my limited A BRITISH

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list of small talk topics, a ball, and of these I have found balls, maroons, parties, and festivities of all and every kind, more amusing to the gentlemen, and more attractive to the ladies. On the last day of the old year there were grand doings in the island of St. —. There had been for some time past, a run of balls, and a continuation of social and amusing evening parties, which had roused the spirits of the inhabitants, making them gay and lively, and full of life ; but on this night there was to be a ball—a ball, indeed; something more grand than usual, the entertainment more splendid, the ladies more numerous, the dancing more spirited ; people expected more display, more fascination, more beauty and fashion, more “ haut ton” than was common ; for this was no affair of every day, no usual occurrence; it was one of those balls which happen once a year, and once a year only.

It had been the topic of island conversation for a month at least. The gentlemen had time to determine how they should dress, and it was rumoured (oh! that there were any truth in rumours), that a certain well known votary of fashion, handsome and somewhat inconstant to boot, had read, nay, studied with more than ordinary attention, a moral essay on tying cravats, and had actually made sufficient progress to come to a just and discreet decision, as to the manner in which his own should be tied, one whole day before that overwhelming and truly important occasion arrived.

Each lady had time to arrange in her own mind,

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how much Miss So and So, would look better or worse than herself; to determine whether Mr. Timothy Truelove would pay more attention to Miss Emeline Prateapace, or to Miss Adeline Silvertongue ; and to wonder if a certain erudite and elaborate author would kick as classically as he was commonly wont. In fact, all began to wish the arrival of the period;—and at last, when it did arrive, Ye gods ! the glorious lustre of that night!

It shone,—the sun shone,—never half as bright.

The room was crowded, though not to excess, and the dancing was kept up with spirit; the ladies appeared to enjoy themselves, and the gentlemen were delighted with their fair partners; in short, every thing went well, and the whole was an interesting picture of pleasure and diverting amusement ; a fair and characteristic display of Creole beauty, where many were seen (to use the words of Coleridge) “ rich in all the fascinations of tropical “ girlishness.”

But the demon of misery, who attacks man under all circumstances, and infects every station of life, in a greater or less degree, is often seen in the midst of mirth and revelry, to mar the blossom of some fair flower! and the meek indifference of the resigned and gentle maid, with the mournful smile occasionally playing on her cheek of pain, are signs which too often indicate woe, and seem to show the heart of such a one is not the seat of happiness:

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and on that night it was thus. In the midst of that beautiful and brilliant scene where mirth reigned,— reigned gloriously and gaily, there was one who partook of it without enjoying it; who moved in its very centre without feeling its influence. Young and handsome, yet of mournful aspect, her large dark eyes and glossy ringlets of raven black formed a beautiful contrast with the bleached and deadly paleness of her cheek, while the melancholy sadness that pervaded her countenance, and the stamp of misery that sat upon her brow, created a lively and intense interest in the beholder.

After gazing on her for a moment, I inquired her name of a friend who stood near me, asking, at the same time, if she was in a consumption ? “ She is indeed !” replied my friend, “ consuming “ by unhappiness, and dying from the stings of dis“ appointment! and yet,” said he, “ I have known “ her when she was the gayest of the gay, and “ partook as she does now, of the merriment around “ her; joining in the dance, but not as now, like a “ victim of human misery! she was then a sportive “ being, frolicsome and joyful; one who had never “ thought of woe, or dreamt of aught but happi“ ness. She was sent home to finish her education, “ at the age of sixteen, and to find in England that “ learning and those accomplishments, which she “ could not procure here. She had been at home “ about two years when her parents, Mr. and Mrs. “ Musgrave, followed her, and as her education was “ perfected, took her from school, and repaired to

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“ Brighton, determined to introduce Emily, and let “ her see a little of the gaiety of the fashionable “ world, ere they returned to the Island of St.—. “ It was during the height of the season that Emily “ Musgrave arrived at Brighton : beautiful, fair, “ lovely, and accomplished; and as such, was soon “ beset with admirers,—rich and ancient ones, and “ young ones without riches: in short, she soon “ became the ‘ belle’ of the place. “ Among the many lovers who strove to gain her “ heart, not forgetting her hand, for she had a large “ fortune, a young officer of the — regiment of “ foot, was the only one who could make the least “ impression on the feelings of the little beauty, so “ much admired by all. Edward combined with a “ handsome figure and open countenance, an insinuat“ ing address, and being withal an enthusiastic ad“ mirer of beauty, he used all his endeavours, and at “ length contrived to ingratiate himself in the favor “ of Emily, and to win entirely, what none before “ could move, her heart. “ Love is a flame which seldom burns but to give “ pain; and some accident generally, I may say “ always, occurs, to render one object miserable by “ the inconstancy of the other, or both, by the dis“ appointments of life. “ Emily and Edward were warm and ardent lovers ; “ neither doubted the other’s truth : each thought “ the other perfect; they were constantly together; “ they danced together, sang together, walked toge“ ther; they moved in the same circles of gaiety

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“ and fashion ; they each enjoyed them,—they were “ both happy: but could this last? could human “ happiness endure long? “ ‘ The best of friends must part!’ this old proverb was now made good : Edward was ordered to join “ his regiment immediately, to proceed to Barbados; “ and when Emily heard the news, her heart recoiled “ from it with sorrow, and her buoyant spirits fell. “ Edward did all in his power to console ; he poured “ forth at her feet vows of eternal constancy; pro“ mised that their parting should be of short dura“ tion: said at the termination of one twelvemonth, “ he would procure leave of absence, return to Eng“ land, and claim her as his wife; and finally, he “ drew from her a vow, that she would never be “ another’s. He went.—She neither heard of, or “ from him, more !—He was inconstant: he had for“ gotten Emily! “ A short time afterwards, Mr. and Mrs. Musgrave “ returned with her to the Island of St. —: but “ from that day to this, Emily has never recovered “ her former buoyant spirits; the victim of a foolish “ promise, and of misplaced affections, she has pined “ on, and will so continue to pine, till she become “ the victim of Death.”

I.

“ The secret by her tongue conceal’d, “ Her fading charms declare; “ And what by words is unreveal’d “ Is better written there; “ The silent tale, by sorrow traced, “ Of ‘ young affections run to waste. ’

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“ The radiance of her downcast eye “ Is shadow’d by a tear, “ Faint as the light of evening’s sky, “ That tells the night is near;— “ The long, the moonless night of rest, “ When life is waning in its west.

III.

“ And seems her cheek, whose bloom is fled, “ (So beautiful and brief), “ As if the white rose there had shed “ Its pale and fallen leaf; “ Which summer’s genial sun and rain “ Shall never wake to life again.

IV.

“ But she is hastening to the bowers “ That bloom in happier spheres; “ Where fond affection’s fadeless flowers “ Shall not be nursed by tears ; “ Where love’s pure flame shall ne’er expire, “ Nor kill the heart that feeds its fire.” “ J. M.” Literary Souvenir for 1829.

My friend now joined a party at the other end of the room, but as I had acquired an interest in her fate, I continued gazing on the unfortunate fair one.

On the day preceding this important evening a transport had arrived with troops and officers, with their wives on board; and many were invited to the ball; among these were Captain and Mrs. Elving, the latter of whom, with three other ladies, had taken advantage of a carriage, to convey them to the ball ; and, consequently (although very late), arrived

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before their husbands. As these ladies entered the room, escorted by the “ aides-de-camp” of the Governor who had given the ball, Emily Musgrave suddenly rose, and Mrs. Elving as suddenly ran to meet her. Their greeting was friendly and affectionate, and they only appeared to regret, that the place was too public to allow them to indulge the fulness of their feeling.

I noticed, with pain, the contrast between Fanny Elving and her earliest and dearest friend (for Emily had been her schoolfellow). They were about the same age: the one displayed, in melancholy and mournful sadness, the ravages which the fatal experience of bitter disappointments had made in her constitution; and in her remaining beauty seemed the likeness of a being gradually approaching the grave: the other, who as yet had felt none of life’s bitterness, was bright and beautiful, lovely and lively, married to the man she loved, and enjoying, with him, all the happiness she could well desire.

After conversing for some time, and telling each other the various adventures and accidents which had occurred to them since they last met, Mrs. Elving got up, and saying, “ I have not yet, my dear “ Emily, introduced you to my good lord and mas“ ter,” turned round, and called the captain to her.

As he came forward, and saw Emily, his kness tottered, he turned suddenly pale, and would have fallen, had not two of his fellow officers approached, and led him out of the room. Emily fainted on the spot, and was also borne away : she had seen in the

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person of captain Elving her own inconstant Edward, and the beloved husband of her dearest friend. The scene was over; Mr. and Mrs. Musgrave had taken Emily home ; Captain and Mrs. Elving had retired ; the party broke up, and I left the room, deeply impressed with what I had seen. *

*

*

*

*

*

About a week afterwards, as I was one evening strolling with my friend among the tombstones in the burying-ground of the island, we approached a grave newly dug, and my friend emphatically said, “ In that grave, in less than half an hour, will be “ deposited the mortal remains of the once beautiful, “ lovely, gay, fair, and accomplished Emily Mus“ grave ; and she, who, at the early age of nineteen, “ has fallen a victim to human misery and human “ woe, will leave this world to join the inhabitants “ of that heaven she so well deserves.” He had scarcely said this when her funeral approached; and we staid to see her consigned to her mother earth. Captain and Mrs. Elving were among the mourners; the latter wept bitterly and sincerely; the former could not weep. The service of the dead began. The worthy rector pronounced it in a solemn and emphatic tone : he seemed as one inspired; the mourners were silent and attentive; the words were said ; the melancholy words, ‘ dust to dust ;’ and the tears flowed fast, and the sobs burst loud from the parents and friends of the deceased. The service was over. Edward Elving approached the grave— he looked in—he saw the great clods of earth fall on

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the injured one whom he had once loved; his wife, whom he now loved, stood near him: his feeling was intense; he looked at her, and tried to speak, but could not: again he eyed the grave; his eyeballs rolled in fearful wildness ; he made an effort to ejaculate “ Farewell, Fanny !” and fell—to rise no more ! He fell, a lifeless corpse on the coffin of the Deserted, whom his own inconstancy had driven there. The tragedy was over; the scene had closed.

It was a melancholy scene that!

Another funeral service was performed; and the once joyous, but now altered, Fanny Elving, departed a lone and hapless widow from the grave of her earliest and dearest friend.

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CHAPTER XVI. CODRINGTON COLLEGE.

“ They have been awaked by these awful scenes to begin “ religion, and afterwards their virtue has improved itself into “ more refined principles, by divine grace.”

Watts.

resuming the extracts from the papers relative to Codrington College, I commence with the report of the year 1824, which states that, “ In the course “ of the preceding year, his excellency Sir Henry “ Ward, governor of Barbados, transmitted to the “ Society the copy of a document, prepared by “ Mr. Christopher Barrow, one of the governors “ of Codrington College, in that island, with a “ view to procure the remission of the duties on “ the produce of the estates, and thereby to afford “ the means of extending to the other dependencies “ of that government the advantages of the institu“ tion. In forwarding this document, his Excellency “ observes, that the very able report of Mr. C. Barrow “ renders any further explanation on his part unne“ cessary ; but the sincere interest which he feels “ for that excellent establishment, Codrington Col“ lege, induces him most earnestly to request the “ Society to solicit his Majesty’s Ministers to forward “ with their influence the project that will now be IN

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brought before them, which, if complied with, will nearly double the funds of the establishment, and enable it to extend its humane and generous aid; and his Excellency entertains a most sanguine hope of success, when it is considered what a very large proportion of the present funds are bestowed on “ that laudable undertaking, the religious instruction “ of the negroes. His Excellency will not close his “ letter without stating the satisfaction which the “ governors have received from the inspection of the “ various documents laid before them by Mr. Forster “ Clarke, the agricultural attorney, from which it “ appears that the produce of the estates for the last “ ten years is nearly quadruple to that of the pre“ vious period, and that the addition of stock far “ exceeds that of any other estate on the island; cir“ cumstances which clearly evince the ability and “ integrity with which Mr. Clarke has discharged “ his trust, and will without doubt be duly appre“ dated by the Society. “ The Rev. John Hothersall Pinder, chaplain to “ the negroes, Barbados, reports that he arrived “ safely at Barbados, May 24, 1824. On the Sun“ day after his arrival, he went up to the chapel, “ and experienced a most gratifying reception from “ all the members, young and old. No serious com“ plaints were reported against any of them, and the “ children had made a very fair progress during the “ year of his absence. Mr. Parkinson had most “ faithfully discharged his duty as acting chaplain; “ and Mrs. Hurman (formerly Miss Puckerin) ap“ “ “ “ “ “

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“ pears still very zealous in discharging the office of “ schoolmistress. There are eighty-eight children “ under instruction, twenty-five of whom attend only “ the Sunday-school, which meets for two hours pre“ vious to divine service. At present this form, with “ the first class of the day-school, read a portion of the “ New Testament, and repeat the Catechism broken “ into short questions. He has put Mrs. Trimmer's “ Abridgement of the Old Testament into the hands “ of the day-school, and this forms a pleasing and “ valuable addition to their former instructions. “ The number of communicants on the estate is “ seventeen of slave and free : from the neighbour“ hood, about the same number. Three adults, be“ longing to the estates, who have hitherto manifested “ some indifference to Christianity, are now preparing “ for baptism. On the subject of marriage, he de“ clares his opinion, formed from much conversation “ with the better sort, that, although no marriage “ ceremony is performed, the negro, who lives with “ one or more women, considers them as his wives. “ National habits are not changed in a day, and he “ should fear that strong temporal inducements to “ submit to the ceremony would have this tendency “ in too many cases : the man would call the married “ one his wife, but still cleave to the other, under a “ different title. When Christian instruction has had “ longer time to operate; when the free-coloured class “ universally apply to the minister for ratifying the “ sacred bond ; when the domestics and tradespeople “ on estates, who form the intermediate link, do the K

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same; the lower ranks of slaves will naturally follow the example, and polygamy will vanish in this as in every other Christian country. At the same time, Mr. Pinder gives his assurance to the Society of enforcing marriage, in a Christian point of view, both from the pulpit and in pastoral intercourse, whenever a door is opened to him. From conversation with Mr. Clarke, he is equally prepared to vouch for his readiness to give every encouragement to the formation of such unions as will, in all probability, be productive of affection and virtuous habits; but Mr. Clarke agrees with him, that indulgences should be granted rather as the recompense of virtuous conduct after marriage, than as an invitation to seek the solemnity. There are three couple on the plantations with whom he has conversed on this subject, whose scruples he hopes to remove, and at no distant period to register their marriage. Religious instruction for the slaves is rapidly advancing. The clergy attend in turn on a great many plantations, and give efficiency to the sacred knowledge imparted at other seasons by catechists, and, in many cases, by proprietors and managers. The arrival of the Bishop is much talked of, and most confidently may be hailed as the dawn of a purer and brighter day than has ever yet shone on their little country.

1825.—“ To the superior management of Forster “ Clarke, Esq., to whom has been consigned, for “ many years, the direction of the plantations, the “ Society have been indebted for the continued im“ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

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“ provement, not only of the resources of the trust, “ but of the condition and increase of the negro “ population. The prosperous state of their affairs “ encouraged the Society to take into consideration “ the practicability of placing the College upon a “ more respectable footing; one more conformable to “ the intentions of the testator, and their own original “ views : namely, ‘ as an institution for the mainte“ nance of a convenient number of professors and “ scholars, who are to be obliged to study physic and “ chirurgery as well as divinity, that, by the appa“ rent usefulness of the former to all mankind, they “ may both endear themselves to the people, and “ have the better opportunities of doing good to men's “ souls, whilst they are taking care of their bodies. “ With these views a plan has been formed for “ giving it the character of a University, and arrange“ ments have been under consideration for securing “ to it the services of a principal and two or three “ professors. By these means, an adequate educa“ tion may be provided for such of the West Indian “ youths as are disposed to devote themselves to the “ Christian ministry within their native islands, with“ out the expense and trouble of seeking the neces“ sary qualifications in Europe, at a distance from “ their friends and relations. “ This important measure could not be carried into “ full execution without the effectual aid of his Ma“ jesty’s Government; not only under the sanction “ of the civil authorities, but by a liberal grant of * General Codrington’s will.

K 2

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“ “ “ “ “

money. And the Society are encouraged to believe, from the cordial approbation with which the plan was entertained, that the countenance and cooperation of government will not be wanting when the arrangements are in progress. “ The first step will be to enlarge the buildings, “ so as to render them capable of containing a suf“ ficient number of students ; and the plans and “ estimates for this purpose are now under consider“ ation, and it is confidently expected that the Society “ will be able to report considerable progress in this “ most interesting work, in the abstract for the fol“ lowing year.”

After this, the correspondence of Mr. Pinder gives satisfactory accounts of the progress of the establishment. This I have omitted, for the purpose of inserting two letters from the Rev. Mr. Packer and Mr. Clarke, to the Secretary of the Society. They are as follows : “ Mr. Packer to the Secretary of the Society. “ REVEREND SIR,

the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 27th Nov. 1827, in which you inform me that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts have been pleased to appoint me, on the recommendation of the Bishop of Barbados, to the situation of Chaplain to the negroes on the Codrington plantations. I am extremely indebted to the Society for the expres-

“ I

“ “ “ “ “ “ “

“ Barbados, Chaplain’s Lodge, “ January 24th, 1828.

HAVE

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“ sion of the confidence which they entertain. I “ shall endeavour, with God’s blessing, to discharge “ the duties of this important trust with zeal and “ discretion; and I beg to assure them, that my “ best exertions shall be unremittingly made, to “ deserve the continuance of their favourable opinion. “ The value of the example of my predecessor, to “ which you were pleased to direct my attention, I “ trust that I fully appreciate; and I feel that I “ cannot take a better guide for myself, or act in a “ manner more consonant to the wishes and views of “ the Society, than by imitating his conduct. “ Repeating my best thanks to the Society, I will “ now proceed to state officially, for their informa“ tion, an account of my charge. I have great gra“ tification in being able to state that the attendance “ at the chapel has been of late very encouraging. “ On Christmas day and the two subsequent Sundays “ the chapel was crowded, which I attribute partly “ to the abolition of the Sunday market; the act, “ forbidding marketing on the Sabbath having begun “ to be observed about that time. I am confident “ that the Society will be gratified to learn that, “ owing to the judicious arrangements of Mr. Clarke, “ the agricultural attorney (who, fortunately, arrived “ about this period), the slaves will feel no inconve“ nience from the abolition of the Sunday market, as “ it affects the sale of their provisions, &c.; as he “ has determined to allow all the labouring slaves “ on the plantation every alternate Saturday, as a

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day for going to market, which will be an increase of comfort to them, and render the abolition of the Sunday market a benefit even in a worldly point of view. “ The number in the school has increased during the year; only two of the oldest girls have been removed from the daily school, and some young ones have been admitted. Having consulted with the attorney and manager, I shall keep a daily register of attendance, which will insure more regularity on the part of the children. My mother has commenced teaching the girls in the first class plain needlework, which seems to have given much pleasure to their parents, who have expressed their sense of the favour in very strong terms. The children take great delight in learning to sew, and many already produce very decent specimens of work. The school consists of five classes. The first class read daily the Psalms and second lesson for the day ; they also repeat the Church Catechism, or part of the broken catechism, every day : during the week they learn the collect and epistle for the Sunday following, which they repeat from memory on Sunday morning before service : the number of this class is twenty. The children of the second class are reading the Abridgement of the New Testament, by Mrs. Trimmer; they can repeat the church and broken catechism : all this class repeat the collect on Sunday morning, and some of the more industrious say the epistle also : this

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“ class consists of twenty-two. The number of the “ third class is twelve; these are perfect in the “ church catechism ; they are reading the latter part “ of National-school Book, No. 2, and are spelling “ pages 19 and 20 of Book No. 1. The fourth “ class, amounting to fifteen, have just commenced “ to read Book No. 2, and are learning pages 9 and “ 10 of Book No. 1 ; they are learning the Church “ Catechism. The last class, composed of fourteen “ children (very small), are learning the first pages “ of Book No. I, with the Lord’s Prayer, the Belief, “ and the Commandments. “ The number of baptisms from June to the end “ of December is eleven, which, together with three, “ reported in my former letter to the Society, makes “ a total of fourteen in the course of the year. There “ have been seven burials since June, which make “ the total during the year ten. “ I beg to acquaint the Society that some Common “ Prayer Books and Bibles are required, as I have “ had many applications for these books, which I “ was unable to meet; besides which, some are “ wanted in the school. “ In the month of October my mother’s health “ required that she should be removed to the seaside, “ where I spent a few weeks; during part of this “ time the Bishop resided at Chaplain’s Lodge, when “ his lordship often visited the school, and preached “ once in the chapel. The distance, which was not “ very great, did not interfere with the regular dis“ charge of all my duties.

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“ I request you will have the goodness to present “ my best thanks to the Board, and to accept the “ same yourself. “ I am, Reverend Sir, “ Your obedient Servant, “ “ To the Rev.

JOHN PACKER.”

ANTHONY HAMILTON.”

“ Mr. Clarke to the Secretary of the Society. “

“

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

REVEREND SIR,

Barbados, May 7, 1828.

to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated February 22d, and, agreeably to your request, will endeavour to give you the fullest information in my power, relative to the treatment and government of the slaves on the Codrington Estates.

Annexed is a list of the slaves, and the employments of each, with their respective ages and colours, being (with the exception of one native African) all Barbadians, and among them only two colored people on one estate, and seven on the other; the rest are blacks: the number in each gang or class is also shown. “ The time of labour is, on an average of different seasons of the year, from nine to ten hours daily.

In the shortest days the slaves go to work from six to nine o’clock in the morning, when they are allowed one hour for breakfast; then from ten to one o’clock, when they are allowed two hours for dinner ; and from three to six o’clock in the evening, when the day’s work is finished. The mothers I HAVE

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“ of young children work only one hour before “ breakfast, two hours after breakfast, that is, from “ ten to twelve o’clock, and two hours in the after“ noon, from three to five o’clock ; the children being “ left at home in the nursery, where there are proper “ persons appointed to feed and attend to them. “ In the crop time, a part of the slaves are required “ to be about the works by five o’clock in the morn“ ing; and sometimes till eight or nine o’clock in “ the evening; very seldom indeed are they kept “ later, and not unfrequently is the day’s work of “ sugar boiling over before seven or eight o’clock in “ the evening, and crop time in this island does not “ in general exceed one third of the year, if all the “ reaping days were put together. “ With respect to the food provided, and time al“ lowed for the cultivation of provision grounds, it “ will be necessary to acquaint you, that the system “ of feeding the slaves in this island differs from that “ of every other West India colony; the cultivation “ of provisions here forming a considerable part of “ the system of management on every plantation, on “ the raising of which provisions, at least one-third “ of the labour of all the slaves on every estate is “ expended, producing a sufficient quantity of corn, “ yams, potatoes, &c., for the year’s consumption, “ which is carefully stored, and afterwards dealt out “ to them in daily rations, and when the crop is short, “ an additional quantity is purchased; while in the “ other colonies a piece of ground is allotted to the “ negroes, and a portion of time (one day in a fort-

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“ night, I believe,) is allotted them to cultivate it, and “ feed themselves. “ In this island an allowance of provisions, mo“ lasses, rum, salt, and salt fish, is daily given to the “ negroes; and to feed the three hundred and eighty“ one slaves on the Codrington Estates, the average “ annual crops cultivated are one hundred and thirty “ acres of Guinea corn, thirty do. of Indian do., thirty “ do. of potatoes, eight do. of eddoes, twelve do. of “ yams, twenty do. of peas, fifteen do. of plantains, “ besides pumpkins, ocroes, and other minor articles “ of food; in addition to which, every family has a “ small portion of ground about their house. In the “ new village, which I am erecting on the hill near “ the chapel, I have allowed a hundred feet square “ to each house, which would afford many vegetables “ for the use of the family, or might yield as much “ ginger as would in some years sell for £30 cur“ rency. “ Since the abolition of the Sunday markets by “ law, I have directed every alternate Saturday to be “ given to the negroes, in order that they might go “ to market, or cultivate their gardens, or do any thing “ else for themselves that they like; or to make it, if “ they choose, a day of rest and recreation ! all their “ allowances being continued to them on these and “ all other holidays, as well as working days, through“ out the year. Being thus supplied with food, they “ are enabled, and may reasonably be expected, to “ attend divine service on Sunday, on which day no “ kind of labour is permitted or expected from them.

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“ Every family has a house, and (as I said before) “ a small piece of ground attached to it, and they “ possess the means of acquiring some little property “ by their industry, and of getting money by the “ sale of pigs, goats, poultry, provisions, or crops of “ ginger and aloes. A single family has often been “ known to receive for their little crop of ginger “ £20, or £30 currency, which is generally spent in “ dress, and personal ornaments; but if money be “ laid up by them at any time, which is not often “ the case, it is always carefully concealed from the “ knowledge of their owners or overseers, and is “ divided at their death among their relations. It “ is therefore difficult to ascertain what any of them “ may be worth, but I am of opinion, that very few “ ever possess the means of purchasing their free“ dom. By the late slave consolidation act, they “ have I think the same advantage of investing “ money as white and free persons, by putting it out “ at interest on security; and they are enabled, “ through their owners, or by the protector of slaves, “ to recover at law from their owners or others. “ The applications from the slaves on the trust “ estates of the Society, for permission to purchase “ their freedom, have been very few. About six “ years ago, three slaves applied to the Society “ to purchase their freedom, which was granted, “ and they obtained freedom by purchase of them“ selves. Another application was made last year “ by the driver on the estate, to purchase his two “ daughters, which was also consented to by the

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“ Society, and is about to be carried into effect “ immediately. These are all the applications I “ have ever heard of. “ No registry of punishments has ever been kept “ on the estate ; the occurrence of crime has been “ very rare, consequently few punishments have been “ inflicted ; and those being adapted to the offences, “ have always been light and trifling. Nothing “ atrocious has ever been committed but once since “ my administration of the affairs, when a man be“ longing to the estates broke into the public trea“ sury, with a view to robbing the chest. He was “ detected, apprehended, and sent to prison, and was “ prosecuted for a burglary; but as the charge “ could not be substantiated according to law, he “ was acquitted. The usual offences are petty thefts, “ committed either on the estates or each other, by “ stealing pigs, goats, poultry, clothes, &c.; quarrel“ ling, and sometimes fighting with each other; in“ solence to the white servants or overseers, neglect “ of business, and other acts of insubordination, which “ are generally punished by confinement in a whole“ some, comfortable, and well ventilated room, for “ one, two, or more days, or weeks, according to “ the nature of the offence. The whip is seldom or “ never used as an instrument of punishment on these “ occasions. “ A principal slave belonging to the estate is ap“ pointed to superintend the field work, and is called “ the driver, or field overseer. He does not carry “ a whip into the field, though I cannot say its use

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“ has been entirely abolished. It has been about “ three years since I ordered it to be laid aside, and “ the business for a time appeared to go on perfectly “ well; but the driver and manager have both in“ formed me lately, that the gang was not long “ since, so idle and inattentive, and so indifferent to “ every thing that was said to them, that the driver “ was compelled to take it up again for a short time. “ It is now discontinued, and idleness, insolence, and “ insubordination (the common offences in the field), “ are punished by the driver’s sending the offender “ from the field, to be put into confinement, and “ reporting it to the manager as soon as he comes “ home himself at noon, or at night on the same “ day; and I trust that the time is not very distant, “ when we shall find that the use of the whip in “ the field may be dispensed with altogether. “ Offences of any consequence are always brought “ before the manager, for his investigation, who also “ hears and investigates the complaint of every “ slave who thinks he has been injured or ill-treated “ by the driver ; and they may also prefer their com“ plaints to the attorney: in addition to which, they “ now have an appeal to the protector of slaves, for “ all abuses and cruelties, should any such exist, “ or be ever exercised towards them. “ You have no doubt received the fullest informa“ tion respecting the school, and plan of religious “ instruction pursued on these estates, from the chap“ lains who have resided on them. Every child on “ the estate, from six to ten years of age, attends the

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“ daily school, agreeably to the instructions of the “ Society; (but in no instance are they removed too “ young, many remaining until they are fourteen “ years old;) and after that period, they are taken “ into the Sunday school, and are carefully instructed “ in the knowledge of religious duties and Christian “ principles. They are also compelled to attend the “ chapel on Sundays, when a large portion of the “ adult and older slaves also assemble, and where “ Divine service is performed twice a day on Sun“ days, with a lecture by the chaplain at each ser“ vice: and the Society have been most fortunate “ in the appointment of persons to fulfil these “ duties, which have been performed by their late “ and present chaplain with an uncommon degree of “ zeal and assiduity. “ I am not aware of any thing more that it would “ be important for me communicate to you. My “ observations are confined to the system pursued on “ the Codrington Estates, where the continued and “ regular increase of the population is an evident “ proof of the welfare of the slaves, and of the “ benefit of these regulations. “ If I should, however, have omitted any thing “ which may appear to you desirable to be known, I “ shall have much pleasure in giving you any fur“ ther information on the subject. “ I remain, Reverend Sir, with much respect, “ Your very faithful and obedient Servant, “ F. “ The Reverend

ANTHONY HAMILTON.”

CLARKE. ”

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DIALOGUE BETWEEN AUTHOR AND READER.

Reader. “ When will you have completed these “ detestable papers ? I vow it gives me the blue“ devils to read them.— “ Besides, ’tis afternoon ;— the clock strikes one : “ The lunch is on the table”— Author. “ I have done.”

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CHAPTER XVII. EATING AND DRINKING.

“ Their tables are always crowded with luxurious viands, “ and their wines are of the best quality.”

EVERY man’s life has its vicissitudes; and Fortune is as fickle among the tropic isles as in any other quarter of the globe. There is no certainty in existence. Yesterday I promised Phillipson that I would attend his marriage on Saturday with the fair daughter of our mutual friend, Mr. Merrry thought; and to-day, by an unforeseen chance, I find myself compelled to embark on Friday for the island of St. Vincent. I have been four months in Barbados, and I hoped to have been four more; but il faut laisser aller les choses, and it is of no use to complain.

During my stay in this island I have been as happy as kindness, good fellowship, and hospitality could make me. I have eaten of the best soup, and drunk of the best wines : I have dined with the wealthiest, and danced with the fairest creoles. I have been at twelve balls; I have witnessed three fires, and seen four reviews; I have learnt how to make sugar, and how to drink sangaree. I have been much undeceived in my notions respecting the happiness and misery of the slaves: nevertheless the veil of error

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has not been withdrawn by the eloquence of interested planters, nor by the sophisticated arguments of an enemy to freedom; but by the irresistible conviction of facts, and of facts alone. I have visited fifteen estates, and found the slaves on all in nearly the same condition; nevertheless I have as yet said little about them, neither do I intend to say much until I have been longer amongst them; until I have witnessed their treatment in two or three of the other islands, and until, by conversing with them alone, I find an opportunity of learning their sentiments from their own mouths; then, and not till then, will I state what I have seen ; then, unactuated by interest, unbiased by any motive, save that of making known the truth, I will detail the good and bad treatment of the negroes, generally speaking, and in peculiar cases, as I have found it—the condition of their minds, the state of their morals, and the cruelty or mildness of their masters. These, however, are subjects of vital interest and importance, which must be treated by themselves, and not mixed up with the description of the towns, or scenery of the various islands I may visit. And now have I omitted any thing that might interest my readers in my account of Barbados?—Yes; there is yet a subject on which I have not treated—a subject of the greatest interest to high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned ; important in its commencement, important in its progress, and important in its end. Soldiers and sailors, parsons and clerks, methodists and Barbadians, mules and mulattoes, slaves and woodslaves, L

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centipedes and quadrupeds, kittens and Kittiphonians*, and last, though by no means least of this musterroll, readers and authors, all, I say, look upon it as a matter of the utmost consequence. Reader, it is not love, nor hatred, nor jealousy; it is not wealth, nor fame, nor ambition, but it is more necessary, more indispensable than these—it is eating! eating! eating! or to use the well known forcible expression of a learned barrister, it is beef, beef, beef!

The beef then of Barbados, generally speaking, is certainly bad; and indeed there is very little good meat to be procured in the market. The bullocks, accustomed to draw cart-loads of sugar, rather than to graze in sweet pasture lands, are all in a lean and miserably bad condition, and it would be worse than exaggeration to call the best of them fat. If the bullocks are bad then, what can be expected from the beef. I am now speaking of the meat sold in the market, and my readers must not infer that it is the same on the estates; on the contrary, when dining with proprietors in the country, I have frequently eaten very fine beef.

The mutton, lamb, and veal, to be had in the market, are not to be compared to any thing we get in England ; and yet the creole meat is much better than the European that has been any time in the country; in fact, all the animals that come to the West Indies fall off greatly, and become so lean, that in a short space of time, they seem to be the mere skeletons of what they once were ; even the cats and dogs look miserable, and the pigs are the * Inhabitants of St. Kitts.

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only animals that do not seem to fail, either in health or appetite. Reader, thou hast no idea of the pigs verily, and of a truth these animals do thrive on the Barbadian soil, and revel in the Barbadian canetops; so the pork continues good and wholesome, in spite of Jew Street and the Jews. If their stature be diminutive, their sagacity is great; they squeak louder and grunt more harmoniously than their brethren in England; and if they be not grammatically acquainted with the vulgar tongue, they have at least some idea of the Latin, for when a sow is pursued by spaniel or terrier, she seems to have a better notion, and a greater dread of seize her, (Caesar) than many who have read the Commentaries of that celebrated Roman.

Poultry is in great plenty in Barbados—fowls, turkies, ducks, Muscovy and English, Guinea birds, capons, &c. are always to be obtained in the market.

There is no great quantity of game in the island, although the inhabitants do sometimes amuse themselves in sporting.—I will give their method of going on a shooting excursion, as recounted to me by another; yet as I was never an eye witness of their sport, I will not vouch for the veracity of the statement, for I make a point of asserting the positive truth of what I have seen only. If it be true, however, and I have no reason to doubt it, the Barbadians have certainly adopted the most comfortable and least laborious method of killing the feathered race, and, like the man who desired the procession, that was bearing his wife to the grave—to advance L 2

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slower and slower, they seem to think that there is really no advantage in making a toil of a pleasure.

It appears that a party of gentlemen mount their horses, and proceed to an open plain, whither their servants are sent before them; on their arrival they find a table prepared for them, laden with fowls, ham, beef, and other luxurious viands, and wine of the choicest description ; here they sit down and enjoy themselves, eating, and drinking, and chatting, with their guns loaded by their sides. Their servants are then sent to look out, and the moment a covey of birds appears in sight, they run to the sportsmen, crying, “ Massa, plover da come—plover da come— “ plover da come !” whereupon the aforesaid sportsmen immediately rise from their seats, and levelling their weapons at the unfortunate victims, bring down as many as dame Fortune thinks proper to allow. When they have had what they call tolerably good sport, they remount their horses and ride home in peace.

If the Barbadians have not the best of meat, they have fish that makes up for the deficiency: the flying fish, the dolphin, the king fish, which is fit for a king, and the butter fish, so nice when nicely fried in butter, the sword fish, so piquant, and the snapper, for which I have seen a negro snap his fingers, the mullet, the cavalle, and the congo eel are all delicacies which creole cooks dress better than my readers wot of:—then their soups—Ah—je soupire; for alas, there is no soup here that can equal them.

Turtle, the great chief that stands at the head of

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every well provided table, with punch at his elbow, ready to warm the hearts and stomachs of the guests —turtle, which Englishmen know not how to make, albeit they shew their ability to consume it. Turtle, I say, is so good, and yet so common in Barbados, that even if the formidable body of aldermen themselves were to take a trip thither, they would not, able as they are, be able to consume it all, there would still be enough left for such good souls as the Barbadians and myself.

The Barbadian market also abounds in vegetables and fruit; but I cannot say that I prefer any of them to our English, or rather Irish potatoes.

Perhaps there are some of my readers sufficiently curious to wish to know the current prices of provisions in Barbados, if so they will find them in the following list.

Currency.

Beef, per pound .... 2 bitts equal to 2 bitts Mutton, ditto Lamb and Veal, ditto 3½bitts Goat-mutton, ditto . . 1½ bitts 5 bitts Fowls, per pair 8 bitts Ducks, ditto 12 bitts ditto..

Guinea Birds, 2½ dollars Turkeys, each Turtle per pound ... 1 bitt and two pence 1½bitt Fish, ditto 1½ bitt Pork, ditto

Sterling. s. d.

0 10¼ 0 10¼ 1 6 0 2 2 3 5½ 5 10 10 0 6½ 0 0

7½

2¼

7½ 7½

In Barbados they make very good bread without yeast, and cakes and pastry of all kind. Their sweetmeats and preserves are excellent, particularly

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those made by Sabina Brade, whose ginger and guava jelly is of the first order. “ How shall I get this gourmand stanza through?” says Byron, when describing a dinner in one of his most talented works. Reader, I will take up the expression: how shall I get this gourmand chapter through? not surely by continuing to number the luxuries of Barbados, where luxuries are in “ numbers numberless,” but rather by dropping the subject altogether and flying to another not less interesting, viz. the joys of Bacchus, and the respect paid to his jovial godship in the West Indies.

Of a verity then, I do believe that the inhabitants of these fair islands would be like Falstaff, if they were musical, and prefer playing on the sackbut to any other instrument: I judge thus from the expertness with which they play on their pipes of port and Madeira, from the masterly manner in which they dispatch their bottles of champagne, and from the facility with which they discuss their jorums of sangaree.

This last beverage is a universal favorite; the indefatigable planter, the pleading barrister, the deciding judge, the attentive merchant, and the laborious clerk, all agree in the necessity of taking their quantum of this mixture with their second breakfast. Jovial reader, upon the authority of one who has tasted it, thou mayst assert that it is a right blessed drink in a warm country, and in case thou wouldst like to try it in one that is cold and somewhat foggy to boot, I will give thee a recipe in due form.

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Let the first half be water ; let the second half be wine; and let the other two halves, as Paddy said of the apple that was cut in four, be of sugar and nutmeg, then stir them together, and thou wilt have a beverage fit for an author, and therefore fit for a prince.

The tamarind and sorrel drinks, too, are very refreshing, as is also the lemonade, for which the juice of limes is used oftener than that of the lemon itself, they being far more plentiful in Barbados. Then there is the “ creme de noyeau ” and the annisette, and the champagne—white and red—foaming as the salt spray of the Atlantic, and sparkling as the diamonds of the east. These come from Martinique, and are of a price proportionate to their quality.

There are a thousand other good things which I do not mention, because they are common to the other islands, and will therefore come under my notice at a future period.

And so for the past we have had eating and drinking ; for the present I would advise sleeping; then, if our consciences be quiet and our beds soft, we may enjoy pleasant dreams of the future.

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CHAPTER XVIII. LEAVING BARBADOS. — MAKING ST. LUCIA.

“ Farewell—farewell—farewell.”

Old Novel. “ Holla ! land ahead there.”

Journal of a Sailor.

the foregoing chapters I have often hinted at the attachment of my friend Phillipson to Miss Merrythought ; and, in the last, I said that I was invited to their marriage. Now a marriage is by far the least interesting scene I know of; nevertheless, it is one that always concludes a comedy, and very often a novel. I knew full well the gallantry of my friend.

I knew that love was his element; but I always thought it pure, Platonic, and philosophical. I never dreamt, even in my wildest fancies (and heaven knows how I do sometimes dream), that I should be invited to see the soldier, with an intended on his arm and a crabstock by his side, entering the temple of Hymen. Truly, reader, it was a matter of no small importance that could detain me from such a scene; and I sincerely regretted that the vessel in which I was to take my departure was obliged to sail before the ceremony took place. Had there IN

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been only my own particular and important self concerned in the affair, I might have contrived to delay the vessel for another day; but alas! there were others going by the same conveyance ; and some of these, having had the misfortune to be married themselves, had seen quite enough of that happy and bliss-bestowing ceremony on the day “ When each was wedded to a loving wife, “ Who spoiled his tea and teased him all his life.”

Reader, when I was a child, it was not Gall, but some other galling Phrenologist, who seizing on one of the largest protuberances of my reverend head, thank heaven it was not my nose, deliberately told my aunt Josephine, that the said bump contained the organ of matrimony. Now my aunt, not being deep in the science, as deliberately replied, that she did not believe in any organ but the organ of music, whereat the good man, no way discouraged, immediately commenced feeling for the said organ. Indeed, Sir, cried I, somewhat impatiently, indeed, Sir, I have got no more bumps, and I should not have had that, only I fell down yesterday and knocked my head against the table. My aunt Josephine laughed aloud, the Phrenologist was disconcerted, and I, glad of the opportunity, escaped from the room.

The said matrimonial bump has since entirely disappeared ; marriage now never occupies my thoughts, unless I see a friend with an uncommonly charming wife, which is indeed “ Rara avis in terra ;”

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and so, up to my present sober age of three and twenty I have escaped the “ silken cords,” and, thank heaven, the hempen ones too; and now “ me voici tout seul.”

But what has all this to do with my departure from Barbados ? nothing, positively nothing. Well, then, the sun had set in the western sea, and the full orbed moon was casting her silver beams over the then still and silent waters of the Atlantic; the breeze was light and balmy, hardly strong enough to stir the branches of the fair and stately palm, or wave the feathery plumes of the mountain cabbage; the negroes were chattering on the door steps, and the town’s-people were taking their evening walk, when I found myself accompanied by a party of friends, and bending my way to the boat that was waiting for me on the strand. There is always a certain melancholy attending our departure from a place where we have been accustomed to receive much kindness or attention; and still more, if we have formed any friendships. I was, therefore, not in the best of spirits; nor did the extreme kindness of those around me contribute to revive them. There were many in Barbados, both among the military and civilians, whom I greatly esteemed; and I had hoped to have enjoyed a longer residence with them.

Their friendship was greatly manifested towards me, by the attentive anxiety with which they had taken care to send on board the vessel every thing that could make me comfortable on my passage, and

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by the kindness with which they accompanied me to the boat. Mat, who followed us to the beach, was loaded with little tokens of good nature, such as preserved ginger, Guava jelly, fruit, pickles, &c.; and I have to thank Miss Sabina Brade, our ci-devant hostess of the tavern, for her great consideration, in sending me a very handsome cake and a dozen bottles of my favourite sorrel drink.

When we arrived at the boat, my friends insisted on seeing me safe on board; and, even after they had bid farewell, it was not till they had given three loud parting cheers that they pulled away for the land.

Doubtless it is gratifying to a sovereign, when he beholds thousands of loyal subjects displaying an ecstatic joy at the presence of their king; doubtless it is gratifying to a governor, to see his arrival hailed with the sounding of cannon and the waving of flags ; doubtless it is gratifying to a general to be beloved by his soldiers, to an admiral, to be adored by his fleet; but there is only one kind of gratification superior to that, experienced when receiving parting proofs of kindness from friends we are about to leave, and that is the rapture felt by a wanderer when he returns to his native home, undeceived in the truth of his beloved. Laura, if among these tropic isles I fall not a prey to sickness, or if, when returning to the blessed shores of old England, I find not a watery grave in the blue and dreary depths of ocean, such rapture will be mine. I shall come, undeceived in the truth of my beloved; for Laura is

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too innocent for falsehood, to lovely to dream of guile.

The “ Duke of York,” such was the name of the vessel on board which I now found myself, was a brigantine belonging to Government, and usually employed in transporting troops, stores and baggage, from one island to another. It was now going on an excursion of this nature, and the officers on board were nearly all persons whom I knew in Barbados.

There was Captain Sulivan, of engineer memory, on his return to St. Lucie, whither the vessel was first bound; she was next to proceed to St. Vincent, and there to deposit the author of this little book, with one or two more gentlemen; after which she was to sail for the Islands of Antigua, St. Kitt’s, and Trinidad : Colonel B —, Lieutenant L—, and Major W—, were the persons destined for these three places. The Colonel and Major were carrying with them animals, that would have proved a great incumbrance to the Lieutenant, more especially as he was a reasonable man.—I know not the appellation which the Gods have given to the said animals, but we men call them wives and children.

It was what the ladies called very lucky, and the Captain a great bore, that there was scarcely any wind. This circumstance did not greatly add to the speed of the vessel; and on the following morning, instead of arriving, as is customary, at the mouth of the harbour, we were only just able to perceive the island at a distance.

As I knew it would be impossible for me to remain

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any time on shore at St. Lucia, and as I might not have another opportunity of visiting the island, I determined to make the best of my acquaintance with Captain Sulivan; and to gain from him as much information as I could respecting it. That gentleman, who had been many years a resident there, very politely gave me a description of the place, and related one or two interesting anecdotes relative to its natural history.

As we drew nearer, I had myself an opportunity of surveying the scenery all along the coast, until we arrived in the harbour, where we cast anchor about six o’clock in the evening. As we had been all day off the Island, I did not fail to note all that struck me as being remarkable, and I now landed with the other passengers.—I remained that night and nearly all the next day at St. Lucia, a space of time that did not afford much room for adventure ; however, I made the best of it; and as I have interwoven my own notes and observations with the little narrative given me by Captain Sulivan, I trust, the “ tout ensemble” may not prove uninteresting to the reader.

ST. LUCIA.

In sailing along the coast of the Island of St. Lucia, one of its most striking features is its variety of scenery.

There is the grand, the harsh, the mountainous, the soft, and the sublime.

No contrast could be greater than that between this Island and Barbados ; there was a flat and level

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country, every where cultivated, and wearing a fertile and domestic appearance ; here were cloudtopped mountains, enveloped in a thick forest of trees, that promised to remain as long as time, huge rocks, cataracts, precipices, chasms, and foliage covered hills. The only cultivation visible was along shore; and here the cane fields appeared doubly beautiful, from being placed in contrast with the wildness of the other scenery. If we now and then caught a glimpse of the interior cultivation, it was only between the hills as we passed, where an opening displayed something of the background. The woody mountains that backed the whole scene appeared to attract the wandering clouds to their summits. We gazed on these, and saw the black masses of vapour bursting into a torrent of rain. We looked below; there was no rain there: the graceful canes were waving in the rays of a glorious and brilliant sun.

As we passed along the shore, a little village, or an estate, with a proprietor’s house, mill works, negro huts, and even negroes themselves, as they laboured in the fields, would sometimes catch our view. These, however, appeared but seldom; and in the romantic wildness of that scene where there was so much of nature, and so little of art, they were the more lovely and welcome. They seemed like the fair springs that gladden the eye of a traveller in the dreary desert, or like the occasional glimmering of hopes that remain, the only consolation of a lone and blighted heart.

The mountainous rocks, or rocky mountains, call

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them which you will, that rise majestically from the sea, and form, as it were, standing towers at the entrance of Gross Islet Bay, are covered, from the summit to the base, with the richest evergreens, and are commonly termed sugar loaves, from their resemblance to that article. The natives declare the highest of these sugar loaves to be inaccessible, owing to the immense number of venomous snakes and serpents that inhabit it. They tell this to an Englishman with a prophetic countenance, and commonly illustrate the truth of their assertion with an anecdote of the fate of three British sailors, who determined to ascend it, because, as aforesaid, it was inaccessible. This, however, is an old story ; and, as I am not sure that it is a true one, I shall not trouble myself to repeat it.

There can be no doubt, however, either of the prodigious quantity of serpents in the island of Saint Lucia, or St. Lucie, as it is sometimes called, or of the very dangerous consequences of their bites, which not unfrequently prove mortal.

An anecdote, more modern and more authentic than the one I have spoken of above, deserves to be related here.

An officer of his Majesty’s — regiment of foot having been ordered to join a detachment in this island, repaired thither, though not without the greatest dread of the serpents, and, indeed, with an almost superstitious fear of becoming their victim.

On the first night of his arrival, fearful of sleeping on the floor of the barrack, he slung his hammock

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across the room; and being somewhat fatigued, and satisfied that no reptile could reach him in his secure position, he soon fell into a sound sleep.

His precaution, however, did not preserve him.

It happened that one of these venomous animals was actually concealed in the chamber; and, having succeeded in getting up the wall, it coiled itself round the rope, slid down into the hammock, where it gave the unfortunate officer a bite of which he expired the following day.

Here I will bring this chapter to a conclusion, convinced, as I am, that my readers, like all good huntsmen, will be satisfied with being in at the death.

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CHAPTER XIX. ISLAND OF ST. LUCIA.

“ He gives a brief description of the place, “ Then tells a woeful tale, and says—Good bye.”

which is the capital of St. Lucia, is one of the dirtiest looking holes I ever witnessed; my short stay did not permit me to see, and therefore I cannot describe the houses of public note therein contained.

I landed on the wharf, and those along the Carenage presented the general appearance of West India buildings. My first ride was to the garrison, an excursion which, under the favor of heaven, I will never repeat. It is a jaunt only fit for such as love to risk their bones, and even their important necks, where there is no reasonable motive for so doing.

Don Quixote himself would have paused ere he ascended that mountain, even to the assistance of a damsel in distress. Therefore, reader, unto the respectable and sure footed horse, belonging to some good-natured individual, whose name I wis not, that carried me in safety to the top, and brought me in safety to the bottom of the said steep declivity of zigzag memory, I did render my most hearty thanks,

CASTRIES,

M

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adding thereunto the more acceptable offering of a bundle of green guinea-grass, for which I paid ten dogs* to a certain venerable and delightful looking personage of sable hue; who, when I dismounted, advanced towards me with the aforementioned bundle on his head, and an indescribable grin upon his countenance. This was “ the dogs going to the horses,” and not in accordance with Cruikshank’s famous caricature, which displays “ the horses going to the dogs.” The accommodations for the troops at St. Lucia are by no means good ; yet the barracks for the men are better than those allotted to the officers. Indeed, neither are the officers of the line, nor those on the staff at St. Lucia provided with the roomy and convenient quarters which they ought to have on so unhealthy and disagreeable a station.

Officers seldom like to carry their wives and children to such a spot as this; and, indeed, they go thither themselves rather with the hope than the expectation of returning.

There is, therefore, very little society among the military, and not much more in the town.

The island of St. Lucia was originally a French colony, and remained such to a very late period in every thing but the name. The inhabitants were of the Catholic religion, and the officiating priests were neither enlightened nor liberal, but rather continued to oppose any thing like the commencement (for I may not say the advancement of what was not * A coin used in the West Indies.

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begun) of education and Christian knowledge. The language spoken in the garrison, was hardly known in the town, where the people were all French, and where the customs, the principles, and the manners were French also. There was no island legislature, and the powers of the governor were only limited by the authorities in England. A change for the better has been effected in this island, since the arrival of the Bishop, through whose influence a church has been erected, schools opened, and a clergyman of the Protestant religion sent thither. Thus the sun of education is beginning to rise; and there is no doubt but that its rays, as they diffuse more widely, will be productive of the most beneficial effects. It is a great pity that another language should be predominant in an island belonging to the English ; and a still greater one, that so little intercourse should subsist between the British and French inhabitants.

Every effort should be made to find a gradual remedy for this important evil. Something should be done to give an English aspect to the colony, and to render its inhabitants attached to, and contented with the British dominion. Protestant schools may do this among the less wealthy classes of people, who will perhaps prefer seeing their children educated in these, to seeing them without any education at all; but they will not affect those whose property enables them to send their children, for their education, to France, where they imbibe feelings and principles, foreign to the interests of Great Britain; M2

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and learn to hope that their island may eventually revert to the possession of the French.

The Bishop has made a commencement that promises well; and provided his zealous and praise-worthy exertions are supported, by the encouragement of a mild and conciliating, yet firm and enterprising governor, there is no doubt but that the condition of St. Lucia will be materially changed for the better, and that those who have improved it, when reflecting on the superstitious bigotry, the pitiable ignorance, and the foreign influence that once prevailed, will be able to say with Moliere “ Nous avons change tout cela.�

The soil of St. Lucia is good, and the island is capable of much more cultivation than is at present visible : perhaps such a circumstance would tend to render it more healthy; at present I can only compare it to Sierra Leone. It is, indeed, not quite so bad as that detestable place, but heaven knows it is bad enough. There are always deaths among the Europeans ; and the greater number of those who go there, either return with their health injured, and their constitutions broken ; or, what is still worse, never return at all. Of course there are a few sturdy fellows on whom the climate has little or no effect, but then every rule has its exceptions.

The remains of old eruptions evidently prove that some of the mountains of St. Lucia are, or rather were, volcanic. The island also contains several

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ponds, the water of which was in a continued state of violent fermentation: this became less every year, and it is probable that in time it will altogether subside ; indeed I am not sure that it has not already ceased.

Pigeon Island, which is a steep rock, rising out of the sea, although close to the main land, is a very healthy spot. It is well fortified, and has a fine set of barracks ; I forget the exact number of men they will contain.

The officers and troops stationed there get all their provisions from the main land ; and although there is a want of society, I am told there is at least no want of comfort.

In Saint Lucia there is always a very heavy fall of evening dew, and it is dangerous to venture out at night, without being well covered.

The relation of a melancholy occurrence, which happened some time back, will prove the truth of this assertion, and be, at the same time, a warning that deserves the attention of others placed in circumstances similar to those of the gentlemen of whom I am about to speak.

Deputy Assistant Commissary General —, with a doctor, and one or two more officers, stationed on Pigeon Island, accepted the hospitable invitation of the proprietor of one of the neighbouring estates on the main land, to what was called a Bachelor’s dinner. This was nothing more or less than the assembling of a party of gentlemen to eat more than could do them any good, and to drink as much as would

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do them a great deal of harm; and it was with the laudable intention of running into both of these gentlemanly excesses, that our friends repaired on the appointed day to — Estate.

The dinner passed off, and was a right jovial meal; the wine was briskly circulated, and after every one had taken his quantum thereof, that is to say, after every one had contrived to make himself perfectly tipsy, the whole party rose from the table and commenced that most delightful of all delightful recreations, a bachelor’s dance. This was kept up to a late hour, and then, heated as they were with wine, and still more with the exertion of dancing, thinly clad, and in a high state of perspiration, they rashly insisted on taking their departure ; and at one o’clock in the morning, after walking down to the beach, under the fall of a heavy dew, they proceeded in an open boat to Pigeon Island, and on the following day three of the party fell victims to the raging fever, which their own folly had brought on.

So much for a bachelor’s dinner: for my part I always vote for the presence of the fair sex, especially the fair creoles, they are so quiet, so mild, so unaffected, so good natured, and so bewitching; besides, I hate to hear of men meeting for the mere purpose of making themselves fools; and, in my humble opinion, folly is quite unpardonable every where but in love, women, and madhouses.

And now, St. Lucia, farewell: I wish thee prosperity and happiness, but above all, reformation and improvement. May the gods mend thy climate, and

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education the manners of thy inhabitants, by making them more English, and less bigoted, than they are at present. Farewell too, Captain Sullivan: may thy health and constitution remain firm and uninjured by the baneful influence of an unhealthy soil.

Adios, was the reply of the gallant captain; and thereat I leaped into the boat, and in a few minutes found myself safe on board his Majesty’s Treasury Brigantine, the Duke of York.

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CHAPTER XX. ST. VINCENT—THE ARRIVAL—THE VISIT—THE RIDE.

“ Here there were many pretty views.”

Tour of Scotland.

“We made him a visit, and he received us right kindly.”

Old Play. “ The roads were rugged, and in some places hardly passable.”

Tour of Switzerland.

Duke of York was a very fast sailing vessel, the wind was in our favour, the sea was passing calm, the night clear, and the moon and stars shone brightly in the heavens; satisfied with all this, I retired to my berth, slept soundly during the whole night, rose at day-break, went upon deck, and found the island of St. Vincent close at hand. The breeze was light and steady, and the vessel kept along the windward coast, on her way towards Kingstown harbour.

People say a great deal about the Alps, and the Pyrennees, and the romantic, and beautifully soft scenery of Italy ; and heaven forbid that I, who have not seen, should pretend to detract from the praise which all who have acknowledge them to merit; I may, however, be permitted to state my conviction, that there is no scenery in Italy, nor THE

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even in the world that can surpass, either in beauty or interest, the very lovely approach to the island of St. Vincent, along the windward coast.

In London we have seen panoramas, and exhibitions of almost every part of the world; and now, not content with earthly subjects, they are giving us the lower regions as described in Milton’s Paradise Lost. No doubt the lower regions are subjects interesting enough to those who have any expectation of taking a journey thither at some future period ; but for myself, I confess that a land, or even a sea view, would be far more delightful. The islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, and indeed the West Indies in general, afford a large scope for panoramic exhibition; and I am convinced that the British public would be more surprised and delighted with tropical scenery than with any other they have yet witnessed. We have seen the view of Sidney, in New South Wales; why should we not see the West Indies, which are considerably nearer to England, and more interesting to its inhabitants ?

I will not attempt to describe the many beauties we beheld, as we passed along the coast; suffice it to say, that for verdure and freshness, for grandeur and sublimity, for the contrast of cultivated valleys, with uncultivated mountains, for variety of foliage, and effect of light and shade, I saw nothing before, and I have seen nothing since to equal it.

About eleven o’clock that morning we made Kingstown harbour; and as we crossed the bay, before we tacked and came to an anchor, I had a full and very delightful view of the town.

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Kingstown is long and narrow, built on the sea beach, and extending on either side as far as the level ground will permit. On the right, viewing it from the bay, is Sion Hill Estate ; where there is a private signal staff; and beyond which is a small battery, entitled the “ Three Gun Battery,” from the number of guns mounted on the platform. Further on is Cane Garden Estate, and the extreme point is called “ Cane Garden Point.” From Sion Hill Estate to this Point, the ascent from the sea is rocky, and completely perpendicular. On the left of the town is an eminence, with one gun mounted on its summit; this is called the One Gun Battery, and separates Kingstown from the village of New Edinborough, which some people are wont to denominate a town also. New Edinborough lies in a valley, and is defended by the battery entitled “ Old Wo“ man’s Point.”

On a lofty eminence above Old Woman’s Point, and possessing an entire command of Kingstown and the harbour, is situated Fort Charlotte, the garrison.

Two flag staffs are mounted on the citadel, and from these the signals are made for all vessels that approach the island, on the leeward side.

On the right of the town, and nearly opposite Fort Charlotte, in a somewhat higher position, is Dorsetshire Hill, a very commanding situation for a fortress.

Here are a range of barracks, and a signal post for making known the approach of vessels, along the windward coast.

Kingstown is backed by a chain of mountains, the most lofty of which has its summit continually buried

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in the clouds, and is called “ Mount Saint Andrew.”

After these the most conspicuous objects to be seen from the Bay are the Church, the Market-place, the Court House, the Botanic Garden, and two or three estates at the back of the town.

We came to anchor in a nice position, nearly opposite the post office; and by twelve o’clock, the passengers being ready, we pulled off for the land.

Verily, and in sober certainty, that same landing was the most disagreeable I ever experienced, arising from causes that will be described forthwith.

Reader, there is no carenage at Saint Vincent; therefore, instead of rowing gently alongside a flight of very convenient steps, and getting quietly out of the boat, without any fear of a wetting, people are obliged to run their boats aground, and, watching their opportunity, to leap on shore as soon as the sea may withdraw to a respectful distance.

Now be it known, that the green waves of the Atlantic are accustomed to rush with foaming impetuosity upon the aforesaid beach of Kingstown; and many a time and oft have I seen boats swamped, passengers drenched, and, what was tenfold more melancholy and distressing to a sensitive mind, a Westphalia ham, or a luxurious Stilton spoiled by their immersion in the briny wave.

I, however, escaped all disasters, by leaping upon the head and shoulders of one of my black brethren of the boat, who bore me, with the velocity of a new steam engine, beyond all danger of getting wet.

The rest followed my example; and, with the

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exception of one of the party, who got his inexpressibles splashed with the spray, they were all landed in safety.

From the bay we went to the tavern, kept by Mary Moore, where the officers purposed staying until their horses and baggage should be brought on shore.

In due accordance with the island etiquette, those officers who were not going to stay longer than the army vessel might be detained at St. Vincent, immediately proceeded to call on the governor; and, as I had letters of introduction to his excellency, I accompanied them on their visit.

We repaired to the old government-house, which was one of the dirtiest, old, ruinous, and ramshackled buildings I ever saw. It was in a perilous state of decay; and if the southern gales had not been particularly calm on the day in question, it would have been long ere I had trusted my venerable head under the roof of the said ancient castle.

Our visit was like all first visits to great men, somewhat ceremonious ; nevertheless, we found Sir Charles Brisbane very pleasant, and we went home with an invitation to a ball, which was to take place that very evening.

On our return to the tavern we found Captain F— and Major D— from the garrison, who invited us to dine at the mess of the regiment; and, having kindly procured horses to convey us to the hill, we mounted at once, and set off on our ride to Fort Charlotte.

As far as the end of the town we found the road

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very good and level, but after this the ascent began, and “ Then came the tug of war.”

As we proceeded the way became more steep and rugged; and late rains had rendered worse than usual what, heaven knows, was, in its best state, bad enough. Independent of brickbats, and other rocky impediments, at every twenty paces, there were stone gutters running across the road for the purpose of carrying off the water; so that the horses had many excuses for occasionally stumbling, and I wondered greatly to see them as sure footed as they were. Add to these comforts the extreme pleasure of riding all along a very narrow road, with a huge mountain on one side, and a deep precipice on the other, and I think my readers will have a correct description of the way that leadeth from Kingstown, in the island of St. Vincent, to the fort that occupieth a more elevated situation in the same island.

I got over all this, however, without much difficulty; my animal seemed perfectly accustomed to the road; and, after my ride to the garrison at St. Lucia, I did not think so much of the achievement as I might otherwise have done. However, when I had crossed the drawbridge, it was quite another thing; then the prospect became truly appaling; the hill before me seemed little short of perpendicular: I was astounded, terrified, afraid— “ Obstupui steteruntque comæ.”

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There was a dead pause; I pulled in my horse, and firmly resolved not to wag another step in advance. “ Come on, Bayley,” said the major. “ Devil a bit,” said I, “ that mountain is too much for me; I must turn back directly.” “ “ You would never think of returning now?” said Captain F —. “ We are within two minutes’ ride “ of the mess.” “ And a pretty mess I’ve made of it,” was the reply. “ How, in the name goodness, am I to ascend “ such a hill as that ?” “ Even after the manner of yonder fearless wight “ in advance of us,” rejoined the captain.

I looked before me; a man on horseback was literally trotting up the road. That was enough for me.

Reader, in an hour after I was with the major on the platform of the citadel, taking a delightful survey of the scenery below.

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CHAPTER XXI. FORT CHARLOTTE.

“ I’ll to my charge, the citadel, repair.”

Dryden.

could not have been on a more delightful spot than the citadel at Fort Charlotte. A sprightly and refreshing breeze, blowing over the battlements, cooled the air, and gave a pleasant medium to the temperature of the atmosphere, making it neither too hot nor too cold. Then the view on all sides, above and below, was of surpassing loveliness. On one side Kingstown, sleeping in the valley below, and encircled with a grand and mighty chain of majestic mountains, whose lofty summits were seldom visible; on the other, the deep blue waters of the Atlantic, extending as far as the horizon, where ships, destined for some other island, might be seen passing in the distance like mere specks upon the ocean. Opposite the Grenadines, a beautiful little cluster of islands and rocks, some barren and some cultivated, then the bay itself, crowded with small craft, such as sloops, schooners, cutters, &c. in the midst of which, like giants among men, were some dozen of square rigged vessels, with their ensigns flying at their PERHAPS I

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peaks in honor of his Majesty’s Brigantine, the Duke of York, which looked prettier than all, as she lay, with her raking masts, painted ports, and sails bent, displaying her white banner and waving her long pendant in the passing breeze.

I admired the view greatly ; and on my expressing a wish to see more of the fort, Major D — kindly offered to accompany me round the fortifications, a description of which may not be uninteresting to the reader.

Fort Charlotte is erected upon Berkshire Hill, an eminence six hundred feet above the sea, from which the ascent is steep, rocky, and inaccessible.

After crossing the drawbridge on the road from town, the first object that presents itself beyond the guard-house, is a small parade ground, situated on the top of a rock immediately before the commandant’s quarters ; then all along the way leading to the citadel, which is dangerously steep, are the quarters and barracks of the engineer and staff officers ; half way up is the mess room, before which is a platform where the regimental band entertain the officers with music during dinner ; higher up than this there are three roads, or rather, pathways, branching off in different directions ; one leading through an arched gate to the citadel itself, another to the officers’ quarters, and the third to the barracks allotted to the men and officers of the artillery.

The regimental barracks are within the citadel, constructed of solid masonry, and capable of containing five hundred men. I should think they must be

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rather close, as the only air admitted is through a window at each end, and ventilating galleries, that run through them. The officers’ quarters are built above them, and are fronted by a long gallery, that commands a most splendid view of the hills and valleys that extend along the leeward coast. They are tolerably comfortable, and have the advantage of a most delightful breeze, that blows continually from the opposite quarter.

As the fort contains no large level piece of ground, the soldiers, independent of their exercise in the citadel, are marched down to the town parade-ground twice a week. In my tour round the fort, I was much amused to see the goats and kids frisking about, and skipping from rock to rock in the most lively manner. I also noticed one or two gardens made by the soldiers; and I believe the sergeants keep pigs, and a great quantity of poultry.

The military are the only persons in the West Indies who manage to keep their dogs in good condition. In all the towns I visited these unfortunate animals were literally skeletons; but in the forts they appeared quite fat and lively, and all the soldiers seemed fond of them.

In Fort Charlotte and its neighbourhood there is good stabling for the horses; and what is better still, the finest Guinea grass for their consumption.

As the roads are so rugged, it would be a matter of impossibility to bring a cart into the fort; and the provisions are therefore conveyed to the troops by means of a curious contrivance. Two thick N

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bamboos, of about fifteen feet in length, are fastened on either side of two mules, which leaves a considerable space between the head of the one, and the tail of the other. Several iron hoops, attached to the bamboos, form a semicircle beneath this space, in which the articles are deposited and lashed; and thus equipped the driver gives the word, and the sure-footed animals trudge on with their burthen, up hill and down dale, along the steepest precipices, and over the most rugged roads. This method of conveyance is perfectly safe, and the only accident I have ever known to happen, is the occasional breaking of the iron hoops and consequent deposit of their contents into the road below. In such cases, however, the mules invariably stop short, and never think of advancing till the evil is remedied.

Half way between the Citadel and Old Woman's Point is situated Johnston’s Point, on which stands the Hospital, a large building, containing cool chambers for the sick, store-room, steward’s-room, and every other appendage necessary for a hospital establishment. The building is kept very clean, and nicely whitewashed; but being built of wood, and somewhat ancient to boot, it is speedily going to decay. A new hospital has been projected ; and I believe it is now in progress, if not completely finished. Close to the sick-house are the quarters of the assistant-surgeon and of the hospital-steward.

The next and lowest point of the hill is Old Woman’s Point, so called for reasons hereafter to be told.

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The barracks here are capable of containing two hundred men, but their present condition is by no means enviable. One company is the military force now on this station.

Kingstown is situated in a marshy valley; and in former times, when not so well drained as at present, the troops at Old Woman’s Point, from that cause, died very fast, and were very unhealthy. This evil has since been remedied; and now the Point is considered more healthy than any other part of the fort. Its situation is sufficiently high to be cool, without being exposed to the sudden gusts of wind that so often assail the Citadel.

The harbour of Kingstown is rendered beautifully complete by this Point, on which there is a battery of cannon, overhanging the sea. Like all other eminences, it is subject to cold winds; and the disease that now and then prevails is, perhaps, owing to this cause, aided, in some degree, by the imprudence of the soldiers, who, after a hot walk, or any other great exertion, are too apt to cool themselves in the breeze, by which means the perspiration is checked, and bad consequences ensue.

A great inconvenience arises in all these forts from a want of water; and, as there are no springs near, the troops are obliged to drink that which is caught in the different water-spouts, whence it is conveyed to capacious stone cisterns, or tanks, as they are called, built for the purpose. In the rainy season these tanks are generally full, but during the dry weather they become very low; and I have known the garN 2

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rison reduced to the necessity of employing transport at the expense of government, for the purpose of conveying water into the fort from the town river.

And now, reader, if thou art fond of legends and romances, I will give thee a tale that will serve the double purpose of amusement and instruction. The subject is the aforementioned battery, entitled, Old Woman’s Point, and the heroine thereof is neither a fair peasant, nor a beautiful votaress of fashion, nor a lively and engaging actress, but the very old woman from whose history the said Point derives its nomenclature.

To begin my tale, then, the first person of whom I shall speak, like the first man in the world, was called Adam, and was a native Indian of the Island of Guadaloupe. In the thirty-first year of his life there happened a birth and a death in the aforesaid island. To the birth Adam stood indebted for a child, to the death for a fortune. His fortune he spent, and his child grew apace, so did the colony canes.

These were cut down to make sugar, but the child grew up to make a heroine for our story. All this happened in the beginning of the seventeenth century.

The lady married, that was right; she tormented her husband to death, that was wrong. So the poor man died, and was buried. Masses were said for his soul, and his widow wore weeds. Readers, during the space of six long days she wept, whether for grief or for joy, our legend telleth not.

On the seventh day she rested ; on the eighth she

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followed the example of all prudent widows—that is to say, she married again.

Bartholeme was the name of her husband, it became hers of course. The happy pair repaired to St. Vincent, at the time that island was in possession of the French. They spent the honeymoon at the village of New Edinborough ; and their dwelling was an humble cot, the foundation thereof still remaineth, but the edifice hath long been razed. In present time, there are centipedes, and lizards, and snakes, and woodslaves, and serpents, that do live among the ruins. These animals have usurped the privilege of the ancient bon-vivants of Kingstown, who were wont, in olden time, to repair thither for the purpose of drinking their champagne beneath the luxuriant shade of a silk cotton tree, that spread its stately branches far and wide above their venerable heads.

This tree has been since levelled by the axe—not of an executioner, good reader, but of a contractor; who committed it to the flames for the base purpose of burning lime stone.

There is nothing more recorded of the dwelling or of the silk cotton tree, that shaded the same. So, in the next chapter, we will take up the history of our heroine herself, she who dwelt in the unfortunate cottage, and planted the unfortunate tree.

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CHAPTER XXII. OLD WOMAN’S POINT — A BALL.

“ And in this legend all that glorious deed, “ Read whilst you arm you—arm you whilst you read.”

Fairfax. “ The duchess’s ball was really a splendid affair, and every “ thing went off ‘ à merveille.’ ”

PARTIES disagreed, doubts were entertained concerning the moral respectability of our heroine and her husband. The most scrupulous feared they were not married ; the least particular declared it to be of no consequence, whether they were or not. My aunt Josephine’s opinion on the matter would have differed widely from that of the least particular. A certain Greek author desires us “ never to deem a man happy till we have witnessed his end. ” Reader, thou shalt hear the end of our heroine’s beloved having lived together, and in peace, in the aforesaid village of New Edinborough, longer than man and wife usually do—they quarrelled.

“ “ “ “

Than peace to keep, to go through needle’s eye, However small, it easier far for camel is : And quarrels will fall out, I know not why, Even among well regulated families.”

“ So says the poet, and I quite agree.” The wife, in these cases, is commonly stronger than her hus-

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band. Madame Bartholeme did not go to law—Do, no, she took the law into her own hands, it was in strong hands then. The lady found an effectual way for making her husband “ keep the peace : ” with a conch-shell she beat out, not his brains, reader, for he had none, but whatever else of consequence his head might have contained. For this deed she obtained the name of Lambees.* To escape justice, she was forced to fly; so it was the victory first and the retreat afterwards.

She retired among the Charaibs, to the interior of the island; here she lived by fishing, meat she had none; thus the lady was penitent, and fasted for her sins.

Our heroine attracted the attention of a powerful chief; so, after a few years his wives grew jealous : wives, when they are jealous, are very devils ; Lambees knew this by experience, for she had been one herself. She therefore returned to Ausingunary, the metropolis, since called Kingstown, and took up her abode on the northern point of the bay, which is the Old Woman’s Point in question. This was coming to the point at once.

The French authorities were lenient, they did not think it worth while to pursue a lady for an offence so trifling as that of beating out her husband’s brains : they looked only to the present; the future they could not see, the past they would not, besides, she brought them fish for their tables, and turtle for their * The French term, used by the negroes at St. Vincent, for conch.

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soups, so they allowed her to live with impunity, and gave her rum and molasses to her heart’s content.

The Spanish priest was as good natured as the French authorities.—“ Father,” said our heroine, “ I “ have brought thee a bunch or two of muscadine “ grapes for thy dessert to-day; they have been “ freshly gathered from my garden at the Point.’’

The worthy priest was fond of grapes, and knew that the said garden contained the finest in the island; his reverend mouth watered for a taste: for my part, I am sure they were sour. “ I have committed many “ sins, Father,” resumed the lady. “ Absolvo te,” was the reply; “ give me the grapes, good woman, “ and go thy way in peace.”

Lambees returned to her cottage, where she had many visitors ; her character, and not her person attracted them:—in the latter, she was what Otway calls “ a wrinkled hag, by age grown double ;” the former was eccentric and interesting. A bottle of wine or rum procured admittance to her company, and she scrupled not to entertain her guests with “ un petit chanson a boire ;” she also maintained the usual privilege of her sex in being excessively talkative, “ jusqu’à la mort.”

In her eightieth year the English erected a battery on the Point: this battery which was meant to annoy the enemy, only annoyed the dame. It forced her, however, to evacuate her garrison, and to retire to the house of her ancient friend and confessor, Monsieur Mark La Font, who was at one and the same time an honest priest and a good fellow. He gave

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many jovial parties, and many jovial toasts ; among the latter his greatest favourite was three letters of the alphabet; not. indeed the three C’s of a worthy alderman, of turtle and mock-turtle memory, one of which proved a K, but the three R’s that belong to Rex, Rum, and Religion.

The residence of this worthy man was below the Point, in the room whereof now standeth a more modern building, the property of George Hyde, Esq., whereunto appertaineth the important title of Ross Castle.

Our heroine’s life was now fast drawing to a close.

After a few years’ residence in her friend’s mansion, she perished in the tremendous hurricane that did so much damage in the island at that period.

The poetical version of her death telleth, that I.

The raging tempest blew in howling blast, The whirlwind bore up Lambees in the air, Higher she rose, and higher; unseen at last, Lambees unseen for ever.—Legend rare !

II.

This is no frequent tale of every day, This is a narrative by no means common : Old Woman's Point was named from this, men say, Old Woman’s Point was named from this old woman.

III.

And negroes think the devil raised the storms, And made the wind with double fury blow, That he might bear off Lambees in his arms To that same place where wicked people go.

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So when around the point the surf is high, Again the natives say the witch is come!

And when ’tis hard for boats to paddle by, They tell ’tis Lambees stirring up the foam.

V. Conch-battering dame, thy legend hath been told ; Thy place of birth, thy death, thy marriage, all Thy husband-killing fame, adventures bold : Do thou, good reader, but believe them all.

VI.

Believe, too, that as they are sung so gaily, All are made up of truth, and none of flattery, Yet one thing more, and then oh, vale, vale !

Old Woman’s Point is now a fort and battery.

Thus endeth the eventful history of Madame Lambees ; thus is the derivation of the present title of the aforementioned battery made manifest to the world; there is another fact which I would make manifest also, The verses are my cousin’s, every line, “ For God’s sake, reader, take them not for mine.”

And now we will bid the Point an eternal adieu, and proceed to the narration of other events.

Reader, while thou hast been perusing the history of Madame Lambees, I have been taking a very comfortable meal with the officers of the — regiment, in their mess room at Fort Charlotte ; and then accompanied by Major D—, Captain F—, my fellow-passengers, and several more of the invited, I led my horse over the garrison drawbridge, on my

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way to his Excellency’s ball, before spoken of: having crossed the bridge we mounted our horses and trotted into town : we halted at the Governor’s residence, which was a hired house, there being no regular government house in the island, except the old mansion of ramshackled memory before mentioned. A sentinel was parading before the door. When we entered the room the aides-de-camp introduced the strangers to Lady and Miss Brisbane; after which they made their bow to Sir Charles.—Sir Charles Brisbane was a fine looking man, rather tall, and completely the admiral in manner as well as dress.

The taking of Curazoa is not yet forgotten, and the character and conduct of this gallant officer, who planned and so brilliantly executed the affair, will always be remembered with the action itself. Sir Charles is the oldest governor in the West Indies, having represented his sovereign in the island upwards of twenty years.

I did not expect to see any thing like a display of ladies, as I had been told in Barbados that there was very little society in the Island of St. Vincent, from which I inferred that there were very few of that sex who form the fairest and most talkative part of society in general.

I was therefore agreeably surprised to find a large assembly present, and more flocking in : amongst those who were making their entree, was the most beautiful girl I ever saw (Laura excepted) in the West Indies or elsewhere. I cast my eyes on the gentleman who had the enviable office of handing

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her into the room :—judge my astonishment, when I beheld the very exquisite who had been my fellow passenger to Barbados, and with whom the reader has already been made acquainted. The lady had a pink satin frock, and the gentleman a pink silk under waistcoat; so it was the pink of beauties leaning on the pink of dandies. As soon as our exquisite (for we will resume this ancient appellation of Atlantic memory) had gone through the forms of etiquette, and handed the young lady to a seat, he placed his glass in his eye, and commenced taking a survey of the room. It was not long before he discovered me at the further end of the room talking with Major D — ; he knew the Major, and joined us immediately : after professing himself marvellously glad to see me again, he inquired how I liked Barbados, what I thought of the fair creoles, and many other vastly uninteresting questions, which he poured forth one after another “ quick, thick, and heavy,” without giving me the time to answer one of them: at last I found an opportunity of putting in a word, not the answer he expected, but a most provoking question : “ Pray,” said I, “ have you, since your arrival in St. Vincent, written an ode in celebration of Neptune, describing his godship’s powers of shaving and ducking the novices who cross the tropic for the first time ?” “ What is that about Neptune ? I hope you are not scandalizing my tutelar divinity,” said the Governor, who at that moment joined us. I knew our exquisite could stand a joke, and I therefore related to his

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Excellency and Major D — the whole account of Neptune’s visit on board the Genoese : the listeners laughed heartily, the band struck up a tune, the pink of dandies blushed carnation deep, and the gentlemen led out their partners for the first dance.

Sir Charles and Lady Brisbane opened the ball with ‘ Speed the Plough a succession of quadrilles followed, and the whole party danced with unabated spirit until two o’clock in the morning, when they sat down to a splendid supper.

As I felt some fatigue from the day’s exertion, which the dancing did not tend to dissipate, I took an early opportunity of escaping with one or two of my fellow-passengers from the scene of gaiety, and therefore did not witness the close of the entertainment ; but I was informed the next day that the dancing was resumed after supper and continued till day-break.

When I repaired to the tavern, I blessed my fortunate stars at finding a luxuriant and downy couch ; and throwing myself in peace thereon, in a few minutes I slept right soundly.

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CHAPTER XXIII. KINGSTOWN — THE CHAIN GANG.

“ Well, then begin—’tis in this islet green, “ Two rude and rocky points of land appear; “ Low in the valley, Kingstown lies between, “ With mighty mountains rising in its rear.”

MS. Poems. “ Admitted in, among the gang, “ He acts and talks as they befriend him.”

Prior.

the following morning the Duke of York left Kingstown for the islands of Antigua, Trinidad, and St. Kitts, for the purpose of carrying Colonel B —, Major W —, and Lieutenant L — to those stations. I accompanied these gentlemen to the boat, and they kindly promised to write me an account of the several islands to which they were going; a promise which they did not fail to keep, as my readers will hereafter see. After bidding them farewell, I returned to my hotel, where I remained three days longer ; after which I took up my abode in a small house, in the village of New Edinborough. These three, however, gave me an opportunity of viewing the town at my leisure, and the reader shall shortly have an account of my peregrinations.

Kingstown, as I before said, is long and narrow.

ON

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There are three long streets running parallel from one end of the town to the other. The bay street, built on the sea beach ; the middle street, and the back street, which is the principal of the three ; they all connect with each other by intermediate cross streets, which are seen all along the town, some three hundred yards apart.

The back street is a level road of a tolerable width, and the only one that can boast of being in good order in that part of the island. The middle and cross streets are narrow and miserably paved, and it would be very purgatory to be obliged to walk therein in boots of a moderate thickness. The bay can hardly be called a street, for it is generally crowded with cargoes of lumber, pitch, pine, oak staves, rum puncheons, and other things of the sort that are piled up on the beach, before the stores of the merchants, who generally reside there, and consequently there is barely sufficient room for horse passengers ; to attempt to pass in a carriage would be useless. The foot path is somewhat better, being paved with flag-stones, like the London paths, and having the advantage of being under covered galleries, which extend a considerable way along the bay. There are, however, parts, towards each extremity of the street, that have neither pavement nor covering. The bay street in St. Vincent is one of the hottest places I have ever seen in the West Indies. Even the galleries, which afford shelter from the rain, do not screen the pathway from the sun, which shines full upon it during the greater

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part of the day. All the principal stores are in the bay, and the chief commerce of the island is there carried on. The middle street contains but a few good stores, and those chiefly for dry goods; there are, however, a number of little shops for the sale of caps, ribbons, and other articles of ladies’ dress, which are generally kept by colored people. Also retail rum shops in abundance are therein contained; therefore there are always a number of sailors in the middle street. These detestable and abominable receptacles are the hells of the West Indies, even as the gin-shops and the gaming-houses are the hells of England. There are many hucksters’ stores in St. Vincent, kept by the wives or mistresses of masters of small vessels, such as sloops and schooners, which are in the habit of trading between the British islands, or of running occasionally to and from Martinique, where they have an opportunity of procuring French sweetmeats and preserves, kid gloves,— noyau, annisette, crême de Chili, and other luxuries, for which they are sure to find their account in St. Vincent.

The back street, which, as I before said, was the best in the town, has no pavement, either in the road or on the pathway. There are few stores in it, and the houses are chiefly the residences of those who are not engaged in commercial affairs ; it has, however, a very considerable quantity of small huts, some ten or a dozen of which are generally seen intervening between the more lordly and respectable mansions above-mentioned. This street is moreover

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adorned with the residence of his Excellency, the Governor. The court house, the church, the methodist chapel, and the government house, which I before stated had become venerable from age.

The Governor’s residence is a yellow brick building, with a covered gallery, beneath which the sentinel parades to and fro.

The court house is a large building of solid masonry, with a lodge and iron gates in front. It contains very convenient rooms for the meeting of the Council and Assembly ; and is, on the whole, a very creditable building. In ancient time, before the church was erected, it served the triple purpose of a chapel, a court house, and a ball room; and even now the gentlemen of the Emerald Isle, residing in St. Vincent, are wont to give annually a splendid entertainment beneath its venerable roof. The jail, which is close to the court house, is one of the best in the West Indies, and possessed, when I visited it, every thing necessary and convenient for the culprits, except a treadmill; perhaps by this time it may have that also, as the arrival of one was daily expected at the time I left the colony.

The church, which is considerably beyond the court house, on the way to New Edinborough, is a very large, awkward, capacious, and clumsy looking building, encircled by a large burying-ground, fronted by iron railings, and enclosed with a brick wall.

The interior, as well as the external appearance of this church, proves that it has been erected under the superintendance of an ignorant and unskilful arO

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chitect. Immense sums of money have been expended on the building, which is without taste or ornament; and what is still worse, it is damp and unhealthy.

The rains have penetrated the roof, and the damp has mouldered in the walls, leaving on them a stain which no whitewash will cover. I have frequently been at this church during the rainy season, when the5 roof has been literally streaming, the pews flooded, and the people obliged to move about, to the great disturbance of their devotions, in search of a dry spot. At length it became dangerous to repair thither: many persons caught perilous colds; the congregation decreased by degrees; and in a short time, the clergyman had to preach chiefly to black and colored people, whose constitutions were more hardy, and less susceptible of cold, while even these were “ few, and far between.” The building, which had already cost near £15000 pounds sterling, was continually repairing, yet never repaired; and I believe that the colony was, in the end, obliged to send to England for a fresh supply of copper to cover the roof. I sincerely hope that the inhabitants of Saint Vincent, after all their pains to render this place tenantable, may at length succeed; and that for the money they have expended, they may not be without a church, where, however ugly its appearance, they may, at least, say their prayers in peace.

How superior to this church, in point of comfort and neatness of appearance, is the methodist chapel, nearly opposite to it. This is a capacious wooden building, with a comfortable house adjoining it, which

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is the residence of the officiating minister. The chapel contains pews and seats in abundance, which are always well filled. Twice on the Lord’s day may the indefatigable missionaries be heard delivering their religious exhortations, and chanting their pious hymns, in a very audible strain, to a crowded and attentive congregation. They have service, also, on Sunday evening, and on two other evenings in the week. The chapel is well lit up with lamps, pending from the beams that cross the roof; and the windows, being of a green lattice work instead of glass, render it cool and airy. The sums occasionally collected here for charitable purposes are by no means inconsiderable.

In St. Vincent the missionaries thrive more than in any other island, and indeed it may almost be termed their head quarters. I remember one occasion when the congregation were honored with the presence of five ministers; and on that night they each occupied the pulpit by turns, and the other four always sat or stood, I forget which, on a sort of platform behind the person holding forth ; and when a very forcible and energetic expression burst from the lips of the minister, he was encouraged by his brethren with cries of “ hear, hear !� even as the members of the House of Commons are wont to encourage a fine speaker.

Besides these two places of worship, there is a Roman Catholic chapel in the town : the priest who formerly officiated was a good natured Spaniard, but this man is now succeeded by a more zealous minister.

O2

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The streets in St. Vincent are kept in order by a gang of negroes who work in chains ; these people are culprits condemned to this duty for heinous crimes : old runaways, and generally hardened sinners.

These chain-gangs, in my humble opinion, reflect but little credit on the colony. To an Englishman it is a horrid and disgusting thing to see men and women working in fetters in the street; and I would ask, what is to be expected from a man who has once been pointed at and hooted by his fellow slaves? does such a punishment soften his heart, or improve his morals ? on the contrary, does it not make him callous and shameless ? does it not render him careless concerning his future fate ? These slaves, who compose the gang, are under the direction of a driver, and, independent of clearing the roads, they are permitted to destroy every pig they meet: in such cases they cut off the head, and throwing the body on the road side, leave it to be fetched away by the owner.

This is an office which these hardened and abandoned wretches appear to delight and revel in; and, if it be possible, I really think the women are more barbarous than the men. Lost to themselves and to the world, accustomed to behold cruel and disgusting sights, in a low and degraded condition, careless of their present state, hopeless of a better, and sunk even lower than the brute creation, their punishment, instead of shaming, hardens, instead of ameliorating, ruins them.

I will relate to my readers a circumstance of

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which I was a reluctant and indignant witness. I was one day standing at my window, gazing on these unfortunate beings at their work, when a pig passed the gang; before the poor animal had proceeded ten yards, a long pike, which they carry for the purpose, was immediately thrust into its side, and passed out beneath its belly ; at that moment a woman, to whom the pig belonged, came out of her house, which was close by, and, seizing the animal's two legs, endeavoured to take it from the man; the enraged and savage brute, immediately left his hold of the pike, and taking the other two legs of the pig, commenced pulling it in a contrary direction; the struggle lasted about five minutes, during which time the bowels and intestines of the animal, were protruding in a most disgusting manner; and the females of the gang, instead of turning away from the revolting scene before them, appeared to enjoy it like a delicious meal, and stood laughing at the despoiled owner at length the man gained the mastery, and having severed the head from the body, he stuck it on his pike, as if in triumph, and afterwards repaired to the market to make his bargain with the butcher.

Now to those who have sanctioned this law, I will put a plain and simple question; I will ask them whether it would be proper for their wives and daughters to witness such a spectacle ? I will ask them whether the mind of a female, with only a common sense of decency, would not be shocked at such a scene? a woman of delicate and refined feelings would shudder at the bare idea ; and I will

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ask them what is of yet more importance, whether it be right, for children, for infant minds that require to be formed and moulded by good precept and example, to be rendered callous to scenes of cruelty, and void of pity or compassion, by witnessing daily the shedding of even animal’s blood ?

Surely a more proper, and even a more profitable mode of punishment might be found ; for at present the slaves who compose the gang do comparatively nothing; an estate negro would do more, a British peasant would perform thrice the labour ; therefore it is not the bodies of the culprits that are harmed, but their hearts that are rendered callous, and feelingless, and cold. I will now conclude this hateful subject, sincerely hoping that a system so heinous in its nature, so improper in its principle, and so revolting to every sensitive and feeling mind, may be soon extirpated and abolished * ; that it may shortly give place to another and a better institution ; one more fitted to ameliorate, and less likely to destroy. * I have heard, since my departure from the colony, that a treadmill has arrived, and that the chain-gang is now done away with.

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CHAPTER XXIV. MISCELLANIES.

“ Not much of any thing, but a little of every thing.�

Old Play.

residence in New Edinborough was not of the most lively or enviable description. This village is very small, situated in a valley, and surrounded on all sides by hills, except towards the sea, where the constant dashing of the spray on the beach breaks in dismal and undisturbed sounds on the ear. The hamlet is composed of a few very nice houses, scattered here and there, and several less respectable dwellings, that do no credit to the place. The village maintains a pretty appearance, owing to the buildings being enveloped as they are in the richest and most variegated foliage. The most conspicuous edifice stands, however, by itself, unscreened by trees of any description; and from the absence of all ornament, is evidently built for use alone. This is the Commissariat store-house, and thereunto are attached a wood-yard and stables for the mules. New Edinborough is a lonely place ; and soldiers waiting for their rations, or officers for their cash, are almost its only visitors.

MY

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Reader, I was born for society. I cannot bear to live alone. Men, women, and children, are humanizing things, and verily I do enjoy their presence; therefore, although for a time I was content to dine daily by myself, and after dinner to sit for an hour or two with my bottle and my book, reading “ Paradise Lost,” or “ the Pleasures of a Married Life which, by the way, are very similar works, yet the delights of lonely retirement did not long suit my constitution ; and for this, and sundry other reasons of weight and importance, “ I took up my bed and walked that is to say, I decamped from the aforesaid retired village of New Edinborough, and removed to a very pretty little house in Kingstown, nearly opposite to the church. My situation was rendered the more gracious from the circumstance of there being only one house intervening between my own dwelling and the Methodist chapel; while on the right of my domain, dwelt a peaceful barber, who for a trifle did not scruple to cut my hair or shave my beard; and prided himself on a very peculiar pun of his own : in fact, he never left my house without repeating it, “ If you please, Sir, I will not cut and come “ again: but, when you desire it, I will come again “ and cut ! ” My new abode very soon pleased me much better than the one I had left. It needed only to be in town to find acquaintances and society to the heart’s content; and, therefore, it was not long before I found myself constantly engaged to some party or maroon.

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My usual book of matrimonial pleasures, that formerly relieved my after-dinner’s lassitude and “ ennui,” now gave place to evening rides up and down the Back Street and round the Parade Ground.— These were places of general resort; for the roads in the vicinity of town not being good, tbe inhabitants preferred riding in the level street, or on the grassy sod of the Parade, to an uneasy excursion over rugged and dangerous pathways. The said Parade Ground was a large open space, where the forces of the Kingstown militia were wont to study the profession of arms; and where the troops of the line were exercised, “ deux fois par semaine.”

The militia force consists of a troop of light cavalry, which is composed of some fifteen or twenty privates, besides the officers; the northern and southern regiments of infantry, and two Queen’s companies, besides the militia of Berquia Canuan and the Union Island.

In the Garrison there are four companies of regulars, commanded by a major, who is commandant; a detachment of artillery, under a lieutenant; a fortadjutant, a barrack-master, an ordnance storekeeper, an engineer officer, a commissary, and military labourers.—The medical department is composed of a staff and assistant-surgeon, with steward, storekeeper, &c.

On the King’s birth-day, there is always what is called a grand review of the militia forces by the Governor, who comes upon the ground dressed in the splendid uniform of a commander-in-chief, and

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attended by his staff and aides-de-camp. On such occasions a tent is generally pitched on the Parade, whither the ladies repair to witness the spectacles, and at its conclusion return to Government House, where they partake of a second breakfast. His Excellency dines with the colonel and officers of the militia, and usually gives a splendid ball in the evening. On such nights it is not uncommon to see as many as three hundred people at Government House; and on one occasion, so great was the crowd, that the floor gave way : and although it only fell six inches, and therefore caused no accident ; yet the ladies were extremely frightened, and screamed extremely loud,—could any thing else be expected from ladies in a fright ?

The inhabitants of St. Vincent are very fond of marooning parties, and these pleasant little excursions were much patronised by the Governor. Assemblies of some dozen ladies, and perhaps double that number of gentlemen, repair to a rural spot, where under the cover of a tent, or beneath the shade of trees, they enjoy a cold meal, which serves for a dinner. Exhilarating wine on the part of the gentlemen, and exhilarating conversation on the part of the ladies, commonly render such parties more agreeable than more formal and ceremonious entertainments.

Independent of being a member of most of these parties, I was the frequent companion of the officers of the garrison in their rides to the country, and on their visits to various estates, where I had frequent

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invitations to remain some time ; so that in a few months I had ascended Mount St. Andrew, and visited Dorsetshire Hill, Calliaqua, the Vigie, Mount Young, and several other places, in the vicinity of Kingstown. Reader, I owe thee a description of these places, “ Have patience with me, and I will “ pay thee all.”

Dorsetshire Hill is an eminence some three miles to the back of Kingstown, on the windward side.— Its situation is of necessity cool, being one thousand feet above the sea; and as the lands around it are not swamped and marshy, it is a healthy and agreeable spot. It commands a magnificent prospect on one side, overlooking the sea a long way down the windward coast; and on the other, the town and harbour, with Bequia and the Grenadines. On a very clear day, the Island of Grenada may be distinctly seen, through a good telescope, from this charming spot. On Dorsetshire Hill there are barracks for two hundred and fifty men, with two small hospitals, officers’ quarters, mess room, tanks, &c.; but they have all been suffered to go to ruin, and are now in so dilapidated and ramshackled a condition as to be untenantable by aught save serpents, woodslaves, centipedes, and such animals, which may be seen there in abundance. There is, however, a small barrack fitted up near the signal post, in which one man is stationed, whose duty it is to look out for all vessels that approach from the windwardquarter, and make the due signal to the town.

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Some of the barracks are yet capable of repair; but at present, they totter from their foundations, and shake like an aspen leaf as the wind sweeps over the hill in violent and threatening gusts.

There is always more or less rain on Dorsetshire Hill, so that the tanks are generally full; besides which there is a spring at no great distance from the barracks. The whole place is capable of much improvement; and if well fortified, would make a very desirable station for troops.

The descent from the hill is somewhat steep, and the road excessively rugged. About half way down the hill it branches off in two directions; one leading to town, and the other to Calliaqua, which is a village on the windward-coast, with a very safe harbour for shipping. Many vessels lie here and take in their sugars, instead of going to Kingstown.

Calliaqua is not deemed so healthy as the capital, and is often visited by fevers. The harbour, which is considered one of the best in the West Indies, is defended by Fort Duvernette, which is a steep rock, standing alone in the sea, and nearly two hundred feet above it. There are barracks erected on its summit that will contain thirty men, and a tank to supply them with water. Its ascent was accomplished by blowing off part of the rock, and building steps from the sea to the top, where there is a battery of guns and mortars ; as it is literally a banistered staircase all the way up, it would have been impossible to have attempted carrying cannons up

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the steps; and as the rock was perfectly inaccessible on all sides, they contrived to sling them from the opposite shore.

This wonderful phenomenon which, as it rises from the sea, is little short of perpendicular, is composed of volcanic cinders, mingled and amalgamated together to a great degree of hardness. Bushes and prickly pears are growing all over it; and the friend who made the ascent with me, which I can tell my readers is the devil’s own undertaking, and infinitely more lofty than the staircase of St. Paul's, being somewhat desirous of carrying away with him a token of his visit, gathered one of the aforesaid prickly pears, and in a moment, “ par distraction,� placed it in the confined pocket of his pantaloons; where its sharp points, as they penetrated his skin, soon discovered to him his mistake, and he would have remedied the evil on the spot; but alas ! the said pocket was of small and fashionable dimensions, and it was no easy matter to dislodge it from the very comfortable situation in which it had been deposited by my friend; therefore, for the very disagreeable office of pricking my delicate fingers, in endeavouring to rid his inexpressibles of their uncomfortable guest, I received many thanks from my polite companion, which, I can tell my reader, were but a very inadequate recompense.

The force, usually stationed at Fort Duvernette, consists of two artillerymen, who lead an easy life albeit perchance a dull one, on their insular post.

On one occasion a man and boy were the only in-

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habitants of the rock, where they had not resided long before the father was taken suddenly ill, and in a few hours expired. The boy, a child about seven years of age, was in a distressing situation—alone, and without assistance, on a rocky island by the side of his deceased father; he had, however, the sense to hoist the blue flag half mast high as a token that assistance was wanted on the island, and it was not long before the signal was answered. The child was brought off, and from that day there have been always two men stationed on the rock.

Between this fort and the main land is a small island, called Sir William Young’s Island. It contains no other habitation than a shed, and parties of gentlemen sometimes repair thither on marooning excursions. It is curious, but not the less a fact, that the sand on the beach at Calliaqua is of a sparkling jet black, whilst that of this little island, which is hardly separated from the main land, is white as the driven snow.

The ride from Kingstown to Calliaqua is delightfully pleasant, and the scenery all along the road is exquisitely beautiful.

In ascending the hill at the commencement, and looking down on the town below, the view surpasses all description, and is perhaps equal to the finest scene in the West Indies. Then in the progress of the ride Greathead estate, peeping upon the road through the rich foliage that surrounds it; below, the mill working, and the curling smoke ascending from the boiling-house; the beautiful valley, entitled

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Arnos Vale, with the sea before it, fringed with a superb row of mountain cabbage-trees; the change that presents itself when you have passed the vale, and the great variety of scenery conspicuous on the whole road, too fair to be described, and yet too remarkable to be forgotten.

Greathead Estate is perhaps one of the finest in the island. I received some kindness from the manager, and was a frequent guest at his breakfast-table, a right hospitable table in its way, and one that suited my palate to a nicety.

The estate was at a nice distance from town, and had the superior attraction of a very superb bathing house. A delicious bath in the morning is very conducive to health, especially when succeeded by a delicious breakfast; and I seldom went thither without receiving the whole of one and a share of the other.

The great house is a great house in every sense of the word. Its external appearance resembles a large manufactory more than a gentleman’s residence ; and, unlike the generality of West India buildings, it is of deep red brick. It has the three C’s, for its rooms are cool, comfortable, and capacious; a fourth C (sea) is visible from its back windows, and that is the Atlantic. It commands a fine prospect; but for its advantageous situation it is not to be compared to the house on “ Sion Hill Estate,” which overlooks the town, and is in my opinion a residence more to be envied than any other spot in the Island of St. Vincent. From this charming place.you have a magnificent view of the windward coast, Fort Duver-

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nette, Dorsetshire Hill, the town, the garrison, and the Grenadines.

It was here that I spent one of the pleasantest months of my life, and many delightful excursions have I taken in company with its worthy manager.

Sion Hill flourishes under the superintendance of a man who has well learnt his profession; and if I had property in the West Indies, I would rather see it in the hands of Mr. Allan than of any other manager I am acquainted with. He' is a man who never allows any thing to interfere with the duties of the estate; and in the attention which he pays to the comforts of the negroes, as well as to the cultivation of the land, does ample justice to the owner, and is highly deserving of his confidence.

It was on a fine morning, in the month of May, that I was taking breakfast with this gentleman and another friend, when his servant announced the arrival of the return mail boat from Trinidad and Grenada; therefore, as soon as we had finished our meal, I mounted horse and rode to the post-office, where I found a long, long letter—to me a long letter is the most abominable of all abominable abominations. It gives me the shivers and the blue devils, and all the other devils that are neither shivering nor blue. This was from my friend Major W —, and I saw by the commencement that it was giving me, in accordance with my request, a brief description of the Island of Trinidad. As I asked this for my readers, and not for myself, I determined not to peruse it till it should appear in print. Had the major

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known this, he would have been, no doubt, in a devil of a rage; but, as the matter stands, the major lies in his grave, and so “ peace to his manes.”

For the letter it hath survived its writer; and, as I have no doubt of its interest to the generality of readers, for the major was a quaint man, I will insert it for their benefit—Le voici.

P

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CHAPTER XXV. TRINIDAD.

“ He liked the soil, he liked the clement skies, “ He liked the verdant hills and flowery plains.”

Thompson.

Letter of Major W—.

DEAR BAYLEY,

Trinidad, 4th May, 1827.

I AM about to keep my promise, in telling you something of Trinidad. After we left you, we had a glorious breeze all against us, so I went to bed, and went to sleep, and got up, and got my breakfast, and never took any notice of what was going on, for the captain told us that the Duke of York was a fine brig—that was true, and knew her own way into port—that was not true; however, in two days she scudded under full sail, into Boca Grande, or the Big Bogee, as I call it, and passed on to the gulf of Paria, which is the most angelic gulf I ever saw.

It reminded me of my boyish days, for I threw one of the ship’s blocks into the smooth water, and it made the finest duck and drake imaginable, so I set the incident down in my journal as a remedy, in case of a failure of provision in a smooth sea. When I describe a beautiful place, I always begin with the most beautiful things in it. These you will easily guess, are the women : and of a truth the women of Trinidad are most superb creatures. To be sure

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they are somewhat proud, but then you know, so are Lucifer and the peacocks. I have been charmed with the fair Parisians, over head and ears in love with the fair Castillians, and over head and ears in debt with the fair English : but here we have French and English and Spanish all in one; so that I am charmed, and in love, and in debt, and no chance of getting out of it; a pretty predicament for an officer in the West Indies ! Upon my soul, Bayley, the colored women all look innocent in Trinidad; then they have more of the olive, and less of the burnt umber stuff on their skins than those of the other islands that lay between Cancer and Capricorn.

There is, also, a good society of the whites, and fair display of beauty in the ball rooms. All creoles love dress, but I think the creoles of Trinidad are more tasty than others. French fashions are more in vogue here than our English ones, and I always give the preference to Parisian costumes. It is a happy thing that the dress does not affect the principles ; if it did, there would be little love towards Old England, in this island. The reverse of this is, however, the case; the best feeling exists between the Protestants and the Catholics, and the English influence is predominant: the good Governor has gained the hearts of the inhabitants, and they are all contented with the British administration. The men love their sovereign, the women their sweethearts, and the children their sweetmeats. So love, loyalty, and lollypops are thriving in Trinidad.

Port of Spain is a splendid town ; there is nothing P2

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like it in the West Indies, and it is a great pity that earthquakes are so frequent here; but as the old motto says, “ every man in his turn;” and if there be earthquakes in Trinidad, there are hurricanes in the other islands, and of these, thank heaven, we have none.

The streets are as long as the purses of the Nabobs, and as regular as a company at drill; indeed, the houses are like the troops, and dare not stand a foot out of the line. There is, also, a good pavement that doth not invite corns or blisters to the tough, or tender feet of the pedestrians; and there is road room for the carriages, as well as path room for the passengers. I believe every man was obliged, by law, to pave the pathway fronting his own house, whereat a few, whose dwellings were at the corners of the streets, were heard to grunt and grumble.

There are lots of carriages in the town, and I have just bought a most dashing gig, in which I intend to drive daily, up and down, before the door of the first heiress of Trinidad, looking as handsome as Apollo. All our roads are good, and not like your break-neck paths of St. Vincent.

We have a public “promenade” too, that heats your parade ground out and out, extending a longway beneath the shade of luxuriant trees; and here thy “ gallant friend, the major,” as a poor relation of mine used to call me, is wont to take his evening walk with the loveliest creature in Trinidad. Do not be offended, my dear Bayley, when I tell you that I would venture to place this “chère ami” in compe-

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tition with your own Laura, and Lieutenant K—’s new acquaintant, whom you tell me is the loveliest girl in St. Vincent; nay, I would even venture to predict, that if a second Paris could be found to judge between them, he would award the golden apple to my own fair Helen.

Your St. Vincent market-place is very good, but not to be compared to ours ; we have shambles, and you have none ; then our people are as merry as the devil when he’s doing mischief, and mix their French and English and Spanish together, just like the builders of Babel, or the show people at Greenwich fair.

I should be afraid to frequent that confounded, ugly, and damp religious affair of your island, that looks so much like the chapel of a great prison ; but here I go to church every Sunday, and get a very comfortable seat, out of which I am not turned by huge drops of rain falling upon my “ caput,” and christening me a second time. Then the architect was a sensible man, and has taken some pains about our building, which is quite a splendid affair, and has very elegant internal arrangements; besides which our olive colored ladies are as well accommodated as the fairer votaries of fashion. Then the situation of the church is unexceptionable, and the lawn that surrounds it is green as the hills of Albion, and smooth as the velvet of France. I went once to the Catholic chapel, and really it is an edifice that no one can find fault with. The officiating priest, too, is a rare good man; and independent of a liberal

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education, is possessed of what the French call “ Le gros bon sens.”

I wish, Bayley, you had been here in the time of the carnival; you have no idea of the gaiety of the place during that season. Ovid’s Metamorphoses were nothing compared to the changes that took place in the persons of the Catholics of Trinidad. High and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, all found masking suits for the carnival.

A party of ladies, having converted themselves into a party of brigands, assailed me in my quarters, and nearly frightened me out of my wits. I was just going to cut and run, when Ensign — who was with me, not knowing the joke, and thinking they were so many devils come to take him before his time, drew his sword; and, to show his courage to the major, would certainly have cut without running, if I had not stopped his arm, and given the affrighted “ robbers” time to decamp. In the performance of this gallant feat he nearly knocked down my best case of humming-birds, which I prize not a little, for having shot and stuffed them myself. I have never seen these little birds in so much variety as in Trinidad; and I have made a collection of about two hundred.

Ah, my boy, this is the island for curiosities! here are curious men, women, and children; curious birds, beasts, and fishes; curious trees, plants, and flowers.

By the way, we are indebted for a few of the three last to your botanic garden at St. Vincent. I am told that it is going to decay; and, if that be the case, you may spare us a few more. I assure you they

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look very pretty growing about the shrubbery of St. Anne’s, which is the comfortable residence of our good Governor; and Sir Ralph Woodford knows eminently well how to take care of' them. Sir Ralph gives excellent dinners, and makes excellent laws; he is adored by the inhabitants, and I have never heard a sentence to his discredit since I have been in the colony.

Bayley, when you and I were fellow passengers in the Duke of York, I took particular notice of your extreme partiality to the cocoa we got on board; I now send you a little that is better than that, for it was cured on the finest cocoa plantation in Trinidad.

I don’t think you have any of these plantations in St. Vincent, so you have no idea how pretty they are.

If I were a poet, as thank heaven I am not, I would work up my imagination to give thee a description of these fairy plants as they grow in my friend’s grounds, shaded by taller and luxuriant trees, that form a lively contrast with the rich green of the shrubs themselves.

But I know that thou wilt prefer some of the produce to the most poetical description, for thou art a very Justice Greedy in thy estimate of the good things of this life; and where thou mightst consign my poetry to the flames, thou wouldst not fail to commit my cake of chocolate to a very careful cook, in order to get from the same a delicious breakfast beverage.

In St. Vincent you have Charaibs, in Trinidad we have Indians; and our forests, of which there are abundance, have still their peculiar race of inha-

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bitants—such as monkeys, parrots, snakes, serpents, agoutis, guanas, and birds of the most beautiful and magnificent plumage. This would be a fine field for a great naturalist.

Our Indians are a dumpy set of people, all King John’s men, short and stout, with little eyes and large noses. Perhaps you think they have the negro wool on their heads, but they have none; their hair is as black as jet, and as long as some of K—’s long stories, which is the best description of length I can think of. They are a confounded sleepy race, and it is only by their moving now and then that you find out they are alive; indeed they seem to think that it is quite hard work enough to be obliged to eat, and drink, and sleep—so I dare say it is.

They live in a place called Savana Grande, which is one of the most original villages I ever saw; nothing can I recollect at all like it, so I am quite at a loss. It is composed of two rows of huts that stand altogether, and each by itself very queer and very regular. Now I have found a simile,—they are like Hood’s “ Whims and Oddities ;” that is to say, they are all oddities themselves, as well as their inmates.

My dear fellow, these Indians are blessed in their wives, who differ from all the other wives in the known world:—they are silent as the mutes. You used to tell me that your aunt Josephine was a quiet soul, but if she was any thing like an English woman, these Indians would beat her out and out.

There are some nine hundred and odd of these people in Trinidad, and they do not appear to be on

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the decrease. The greater number of them reside beyond Savana Grande, on the other side of St. Joseph’s. Their town I have not yet seen, but I have twice visited St. Joseph’s, which was formerly the capital; and what with its church and barracks, and sundry other comfortable appurtenances, is still a passing fine town. It will not, however, bear a comparison with Port of Spain.

I did promise to write you something about education, but really you must excuse me. I was a wild fellow at school, and wilder at college; I have not learned much in the army, and am very little capable of judging about education and morality. I know that there is a school in the town where the French, English, and Castillians go together, “ tria juncta in uno,”

to learn Murray’s English Grammar, the New Testament, the Catechism, and the Ten Commandments, and that is all I know of the school. I am however somewhat better acquainted with the tread-mill, where I sent a rascally servant of mine, who stole six dollars from my table drawer; and the next day went to see him foot it on the wheel. I was glad to see him at his work, for he was a lazy fellow, and worthless to boot; he well deserved his punishment, for his crime would have hung an Englishman out and out, albeit an Englishman were worth twenty of him.

I only went once though, for I love not walking, and the streets of Puerto de Espana are intolerably

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hot: you have the advantage of us there, St. Vincent is cooler than Trinidad.

And now, Bayley, I have written a long letter, multum in parvo, that is to say, in case thou hast forgotten thy Latin, a great deal in a little space: I never did as much for any friend before, yet I only ask thee to repay me with a short letter, a very short one, for long ones I never read.

Now I am going to a ball, so, my good fellow, adieu.

Yours very sincerely, W — So, reader, thou art indebted to my friend for a description of Trinidad, after his own wild way; and now I will take thee back to St. Vincent, where there is much novelty to be seen, and much information to be gained.

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CHAPTER XXVI. MISCELLANIES.

“ When they have joined their pericranies “ Out skips a book of miscellanies. ”

Swift.

I not promise thee, sweet reader, a description of some of my excursions with the worthy manager of Sion Hill, and did I ever fail in my promises, when their fulfilment could tend to thy instruction or amusement?—never—neither shall I fail now.

The day on which I received my friend W—’s letter had been fixed for a ride to the Vigie, Mount Young, and Owia, places which I had seen before, but never examined with sufficient minuteness to give a detailed description of them. A circumstance happening however on the estate which demanded the manager’s attention, he was deterred from going, and we therefore deferred our intended excursion to the following morning.

In the mean time I had an invitation to a ball, which was to take place at Government House in the evening, and I determined to amuse myself during the day with taking a trip to the Botanic Garden.

Accordingly, on leaving the post-office, I galloped up the bay, and crossing the market-place passed into the back street. It was market-day, and the confused DID

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scene that presented itself was by no means unworthy of notice. The market-place at St. Vincent is a square piece of ground, of tolerable dimensions, crossed on the right by a long avenue of trees, beneath which the militia sometimes assemble before marching to the parade ground. There are also a few larger trees scattered here and there on the open space, under whose shade the negroes sit to vend their articles. There is a butcher’s stall too at the corner, where the meat is killed and sold to the town customers. The market-place is however seldom so much crowded as on Sunday morning, when all the negroes flock in from the estates with fruits, and vegetables, and poultry.

It is then a truly amusing scene :—the clatter of tongues, in a medley negro language, half French, half English, is tremendous and overpowering; but far more overpowering is it, I trow, to the olfactory nerves of any sensitive personage to inhale the stiflingodour of salt fish that rises on all sides, tainting and polluting the air around, on a crowded market-day.

The unceasing din and clatter of a woman’s tongue one may listen to, there is something natural in that; but to be obliged to inhale such a sickening and disgusting vapour, verily it is enough to shake the nerves of the strongest man in Christendom.

Setting this smell aside, however, truly it is a right comfortable and delightful thing to see so much happiness on so small a space of ground. They were all slaves, and yet they were all laughing. Every one seemed pleased with himself, and discontent was not

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depicted on a single face. If discord now and then appeared, it was only between two husbands, jealous of their wives, or two wives jealous of their husbands.

All were certain of turning their little commerce to account, and all were happy in the certainty. I was astonished to see the self-satisfaction with which a young negro girl deposited two dollars and a half in the corner of her handkerchief, and rising from her seat set off on her return to the estate, bearing on her head the empty tray which she had brought to town, a few hours before, laden with a young pig, poultry, and vegetables.

I passed the market, and on my way through the town encountered Captain F—, who said he was taking a ride because he had nothing better to do.

I told him where I was going, and he proposed accompanying me. We turned out of the back street a little way above the church, and rode for some time along the most detestable of all detestable roads; at every five paces our horses were knee-deep in the mud, and God knows how we arrived at the entrance of the garden. However we did so at last, and now “ nous allons voir les choses.”

The Botanic Garden of St. Vincent is about half a mile from Kingstown. At its entrance formerly stood the residence of the gentleman in charge of the garden, which was in a most rich and flourishing condition, under the superintendance of a Mr. Anderson.

Since the death of this gentleman it has fallen off gradually, and is at present going to ruin. The only improvement that has taken place is the destruction of the manager’s house, and the erection, by the

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colony, of a very pretty cottage in its stead. This cottage is a sort of Government House; indeed there is no other in St. Vincent; yet the road leading to it is so bad, that few strangers on their first arrival would like to repair thither to pay their visits to the Governor. It is very well, and very pretty as a “ maison de campagne ;” but I think every Governor should have an establishment where he may represent his Sovereign with proper ceremony and etiquette.

The old affair in the back street, thrice before mentioned, has been a splendid house in its day, but we shall live to see its fall yet. Great houses are like great men and great nations, their glory cannot last for ever. We see the first destroyed by time, the second by the axe of the executioner, and the third by a weight of poverty, a host of foes, or the bad management of a prime minister.

But to return to the garden—it is no longer in a state of cultivation ; it is no longer the favorite resort of learned and scientific men; the prolific nursery of a thousand luxurious fruits and lovely flowers; and though it contains still many scarce and valuable treasures, though there are the clove, the nutmeg, and the cinnamon, with many other trees and shrubs; though there are the most delicious fruits hanging on the branches above, and the fairest flowers blooming on the beds below; yet the fruits maintain not their former perfection, and the flowers bloom not in the pride of their ancient beauty. Poisonous and thriving weeds beset their tender stems, and deprive their roots of the earth’s nourishment. The wily serpent now lies coiled in ease amongst the high blades of grass

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that choke and surround the once favorite plants of a careful gardener. The midnight owl builds its nest among the trees, and their redundant branches are no longer lopped; nay, I have been told that horses are allowed to wander over the garden, grazing on the sweetest buds, and trampling down the most expensive flowers. I believe the colony has entirely given up this place; and as the manager’s salary has been withdrawn, there is no longer any attention paid to it. There has been much labour, much money, and much scientific attention bestowed on this garden; and it is to be regretted that it should now be suffered to go to ruin and decay.

If, however, it be lost to the botanist, it yet remains a field open to the researches of the naturalist. It abounds with a variety of birds and insects, and the resident clergyman doth many a time and oft wend thither in search of the latter. His collection of insects and other natural curiosities was by far the best I saw in the West Indies.

Strangers, who come to the island for a few days, seldom leave it without visiting the garden ; but it is rather with the view of seeing what was once famous, than for its present value and importance.

Since the erection of the cottage, however, of which I have given a view, the botanic garden has been the scene of much gaiety and amusement. Many were the maroons given by his Excellency at his pretty cottage, and great was the enjoyment of the invited.

Sir Charles Brisbane possessed the great art of making his guests pleased with themselves, and of exciting a merry spirit in the dullest party.

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After making our tour of the garden we returned home, where we dined, and in the evening repaired to his Excellency’s ball, of which I shall say more anon.

The following morning I mounted my horse and rode to Sion Hill to breakfast; after which I set out with the manager on our intended excursion.

I found the Vigie a long ridge, dividing the leeward from the windward quarter of the island. It is five miles from Kingstown, and about the height of Dorsetshire Hill. It was once, like that place, a station for troops; and, during the Charaib war, several and violent were the contests for its possession, and a great deal of brave blood was spilt on that post. Its situation is healthy and advantageous, as it has always a fine breeze, while its distance from the sea protects it from more violent gusts.

Hence we proceeded to Mount Young, which is some twenty miles from the capital, along the windward coast; and its situation is alike beautiful and healthy. The country around it is in a fine cultivated state, and the marshes few and not dangerous.

Troops were once stationed on the mount, which is in every respect a fine spot for a garrison, but too far from Kingstown to be used for that purpose in peaceable times.

The day was too far advanced to allow of our proceeding to Owia; we, therefore, went back to Sion Hill Estate, where I slept that night, and returned to town in the morning.

After breakfast I amused, or rather fatigued myself for the benefit of my readers, in making calculations

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of the St. Vincent current money, and comparing them with our English coin. Of a verity they have most original names for their pieces, such as are seen below, with their proportionate value to each other.

1

Dog.

1½

1

5

3¼

1

10

6½

2

1

20

13

4

2

1

40

26

8

4

2

1

80

52

16

8

4

2

1

64

32

16

8

1

Joe.

1280 832 256 128

64

32

16

2

1

Stampee.

640 416 128

Five Dog piece.

Ten Dog piece.

Quarter Dollar.

Half Dollar.

Dollar.

Doubloon.

One Bitt is equal to four Stampees or six Dogs. make 1 dollar.

13 Bitts and 2 dogs — ½ a dollar.

6 Ditto and 4 ditto 2 ditto — and ¼ of a dollar.

Ditto 3 Besides these there are coins in circulation, called Cut money.

Span. Dol. Bitts. Dogs.

1 1 1 1

Cut Cut Cut Cut

Joe Dollar Half Dollar Quarter Dollar

equal to

6 0 0 0

8 11 5 2

0 0 3 4

A Table, showing the Value of each of the above Coins in the Currency of St. Vincent, and British Army Sterling.

Coins.

1 Doubloon 1 Joe 1 Cut Joe

Sterling. £. s. d.

3 9 4 1 14 8 1 8 8

Currency. £. s. d.

8 0 0 4 0 0 3 6 1¾ Q

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Coins.

1 Dollar

1 Cut Dollar ½ ¼ 1 1

1 ½ 1 1

a S. Dollar S. Dollar Ten Dog piece Bitt Five Dog piece a Bitt Stampee Dog

Currency. £. s. d.

0 10 0 0 9 13 13 0 5 0 0 2 6 0 1 3 0 0 9 133 0 0 7½ 0 0 4§

0 0

0 2¼ 0 1½

Sterling. £. s. d.

0 4 4 0 3 8 0 2 2

0 1 1 0 0 6½ 0 0 4 0 0 3¼ 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0½ ⅓

To bring St. Vincent currency to sterling, take one-third and one-tenth of the given sum, add them together, and the amount will be the sterling required.

To reduce currency to sterling bring the given sum into pence, multiply it by thirty, and divide by thirteen.

So, reader, if thou shouldst ever go to St. Vincent the above rules will save thee a few doubloons, with which thou mayst buy champagne and madeira, and entertain thy friends after the fashion of a prince: then I pray thee, in very meekness and humility of spirit, to remember, not the “ fifth of November,” or “ Guy Fawkes,” or “ Gunpowder treason and plot,” but that very rainy and disagreeable morning in the month of May, A. D. 1827, when thy poor bookmaker did worry his patience and his brain in the plan and execution of the aforesaid calculations.

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CHAPTER XXVII. THE CHARAIB WAR.

“ This Island was troubled during a long period with all the horrors of a civil war.”

I DARE say that my readers are beginning to discover that I love variety,—that I am fond of novelty and change; that my chapters are short; and that one or two, which treat on sugar and molasses, are “ short and sweet ;” moreover, that I cannot bear to dwell for any length of time on one and the same subject. Men, if they can help it, seldom do that which is contrary to their inclinations: now it is quite contrary to my inclinations to continue a long and prosy description of the Island of St. Vincent, talking about its mountains, and its valleys, and its streets, and its garden, and its ugly church, and every thing else that is ugly or beautiful therein contained; therefore, as there are many amusing and interesting circumstances connected with the island, that border less on the descriptive, I shall drop for a time the aforementioned subjects, and commence a narrative of the insurrection that took place in the year 1795.—I say commence, for I do not promise to continue my narrative beyond a cerQ2

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tain length; and though the reader shall have the whole account before the conclusion of the Memoirs, yet it will be only in fragments scattered here and there; for when I am tired of the insurrection, I shall fly to the Governor’s balls; and from the Governor’s balls, to the Soufrière; and from the Soufriere to Kingstown ; and when I am tired of Kingstown, I will fly back again to the insurrection.

All the insurrections that have occurred in the West Indies have been attended with melancholy and interesting occurrences ; but the public are little acquainted with the horrors and atrocities that marked the progress of the rebels in these revolts; of which the most important was what is called the Charaib war, and commenced in the Island of St. Vincent in the month of March, 1795.

On the 5th of this month, an alarm was fired in the island, by order of the Governor, and the forces of the militia were placed under arms. This motion of his Excellency’s, seconded by the advice of the privy council, was only by way of precaution, in consequence of intelligence having arrived from the Island of Grenada, stating that an insurrection had been commenced by the slaves and free colored inhabitants in the town and neighbourhood of Gouyave.

An insurrection seldom breaks out in a single Island; and the inhabitants of one colony have always reason to be on their guard when they hear of a revolt in another. Correspondence is generally carried on between the leaders of the rebellions in the several colonies: for when the slaves in two

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or three contiguous islands are prepared to rise, policy demands that their operations should commence at the same time, in order to prevent the possibility of one rendering assistance to the other.

The immediate employment and distribution of the militia force in the Island of St. Vincent was, therefore, a prudent precaution on the part of Government. One half of this force was divided into small detachments and distributed throughout the Island to guard the various estates. As the Chatteaubelair and Charlotte parishes formed the northeast and north-west limits of the British territory in the colony, one company was stationed in each of these places, and the remainder were ordered to occupy and defend the fort at Berkshire Hill, which the inhabitants were endeavouring to render stronger and more tenable, by carrying up ammunition for the fort, and stores and provisions for the forces.

On the following day, suspicions were greatly strengthened by the information of a person from Calliaqua, who stated that a Charaib, residing in the vicinity of his property, had visited him with a friendly warning of danger, and besought him to leave the colony “ tout de suite ;� giving as a reason, that the Charaibs had determined on a general massacre of all the white inhabitants in the island which would commence in less than three days.

On receiving this information, messengers were dispatched by his Excellency to summon the two Charaib chiefs, Chatouay and Du Valle, to Kingstown, while one of the aides-de-camp went to confer with

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the Charaibs residing in the quarter of Massarica on the subject of the insurrection suspected ; and by them to forward a summons to the chiefs at Grand Sable, desiring their presence in town at the convening of the council, which was to take place on the following Tuesday.

These precautions, prudent as they were, were not likely to lead a people so crafty as the Charaibs to betray their plans and intentions, and their secret was not to be wrested by these summary proceedings ; their conduct was wily and discreet, and such as would tend to set suspicion on the wrong scent.

They gave the aid-de-camp a cordial reception; and when the subject was opened upon, they displayed the greatest surprise that the slightest suspicion should have been directed against them.

Bad men, in the execution of bad purposes, generally produce most plausible arguments in their favour; but the more politic sinner resorts to a “ ruse de guerre,” and urges the strongest and most forcible reasons for not doing what he is about to do, in order that no suspicion may be thrown upon his undertaking. The wily character of the Charaibs was well marked by their reasonable and energetic appeals to the very ties of gratitude and friendship, which they were about to violate and abuse. “ Why,” said they, “ should we be suspected ?— “ we whom ye have restored to our privileges; for“ given for our past revolts, and treated in the most “ lenient and benevolent manner? You have pro“ tected us from our foes in another quarter of the

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“ island; you have given us habitations on your “ estates, and land for our nourishment. If we rebel, “ what are we to gain ?—If we rebel and fail, what “ shall we not lose ? We will not answer for the Cha“ raibs in Grand Sable, they are our enemies; they “ may be plotting a revolt; but we are ignorant of “ their designs. If they make war, we will not be so “ foolish : on the contrary, we request the protection “ of the English for ourselves and our families ! “ We are poor and defenceless; we owe all we have “ to the English : why should we revolt ?”

These Charaibs who thus assured the English of their quiet and peaceable intentions, had been residing on the estates and properties in that quarter, during the last nine or ten years, and had derived their support chiefly from the more wealthy inhabitants of that part of the island. They, therefore, deserved less mercy for their treachery, in first expressing their obligations and gratitude, and a few days after making a violent and furious attack, in conjunction with the other rebels, on the same properties.

On the Sunday before hostilities commenced, a measure was taken by the Charaibs of Rebacca and Grand Sable, which I suppose was intended to avert suspicion. A party of men and women came to Kingstown, bringing with them a quantity of fruit and vegetables, which they disposed of in the market-place, and, with every sign of peace, returned unmolested to their own abodes. On the same evening, however, intelligence arrived, stating that the Charaibs and French inhabitants of Mariaqua had

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taken arms, and made an attack on the estates in the vicinity, Captain Seton, with a detachment of militia and volunteers, and Major H. Sharp, with a party of armed negroes, proceeded to attack them; they made but little resistance, and escaped with the loss of eighteen prisoners and a few fire arms, that were found in their dwelling: houses.

The majority of the Charaibs professed to lament this occurrence, and continued to maintain the peace and friendliness of their designs : nevertheless, the next day the inhabitants of Kingstown received information that the whole body intended to unite to make an attack on the windward side of the colony.

In consequence of this, Lieutenant Macdowall, with about thirty-four militia and volunteers, proceeded on horseback to the assistance of Captain J. Morgan, who had the charge of that district, whence they started in a body, to demand the motives of the Charaibs before they should commence their assault.

The Charaibs, however, had already began their ravages; and the troop did not advance far before they observed the residence and estate of Mr. Gilchrist in flames: and their further approach was rendered not a little unpleasant by the irregular firing of the Charaibs from the cane fields, where they had assembled in considerable numbers.

It is always bad policy to attack a superior force, unless the said force is in a very disadvantageous position. Now this was not the case with the Charaibs. They were posted on an eminence. The little troop were advancing in a valley, and were

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entirely exposed to their shot; therefore the little troop thought it better to advance no longer, and accordingly they retreated. On joining the detachment under Captain Morgan, they discovered that his position would be untenable, if attacked, from the want of water and provisions ; and, as they had no idea of fasting, and fighting to boot, they preferred decamping; and, accompanied by the Captain and his force, they returned to Kingstown ; knowing that, if they remained, they would have no chance against the whole collected force of the rebels which was fast approaching.

A party of Charaibs, stationed on the roof of a house, commenced waving their hats to the detachment when it had advanced towards the town as far as Massarica river; on its nearer approach, however, the Charaibs fired; so they gave it the salute courteous and the salute direct. The troops looked around them, and were immediately fired at by some rebels on the opposite side. They were next assailed by a volley from behind ; so it was considerably worse than being between Scylla and Charybdis.

The Charaibs, the moment they had fired, always concealed themselves among the canes, so that the troops had no chance of hitting again; they thereand, accordfore determined to “ shoot and run ingly, they discharged their weapons; and, putting their steeds into a brisk gallop, were not long ere they arrived in Kingstown. Their original number of sixty was, however, reduced to forty-four, the remaining sixteen having been either killed or wounded

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by the Charaibs. These savage barbarians showed no quarter to the wounded who fell into their hands: they usually severed their heads from their bodies, which they mangled in a most cruel and atrocious manner.

On that day the rebels did not advance beyond Jambour river, where they halted until Wednesday; then, however, they proceeded on their march to Kingstown ; ravaging, plundering, and burning the cane fields and houses of all the estates on their way, and murdering the cattle and negroes.

These transactions were the commencement of the insurrection in the windward part of the colony.

But, reader, before I continue my narrative, I have many other things to think of, many other duties to perform: the first and most important of these is to repair to my dinner, which hath been already five minutes on the table; the next is to tell thee something of the aforementioned ball, given at Government House ; and the third is, at present, enveloped in an uncertainty, which the future alone can clear. Suffice it to know, that my history of the Charaib war shall certainly be resumed as soon as I have the opportunity and the inclination to resume it.

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CHAPTER XXVIII. THE BALL AND SUPPER.

“ Merrily, merrily they did dance, “ And after the dance they supped.”

Old Ballad.

the turtle was exquisite, the punch delicious, the champagne divine, and the madeira at the “ summum bonum ” of cool and pleasant excellence; so that my dinner hath revived my poor body, and enlivened my drooping spirits; and now I will sit down with all the good nature imaginable, to give thee my long promised description of the ball at Government House.

Perhaps, because I have delayed the said tale, you may think it was an occurrence of no immediate importance; but if so, you are mistaken.

The entertainment was given in celebration of an eventful period in the colony; and was, at the same time, a token of welcome and farewell. Transports had arrived with a fresh regiment of troops from Demerara and Berbice ; and the same vessels were destined to bear away with them the old corps, just as the officers were entering into society, and had made acquaintance with the town's-people.

READER,

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Perhaps it is one reason why the inhabitants of St, Vincent do not pay more attention to the military, that they are generally sent home, or to another station, as soon as their acquaintance is well formed, and any degree of intimacy and good fellowship commences between them. Be this as it may, it is at least a well known fact, that, on the arrival of a new corps, they always allow the officers and their ladies two good months to get settled in their quarters, before they trouble them with a visit, and sometimes they forget them altogether.

But I am now digressing from my tale of the ball, which was given to celebrate the arrival of the new regiment, and, also, as a farewell entertainment to the officers of the old.

There were more ladies at that assembly than I had ever seen before, or have ever seen since at any party in St. Vincent. The red coats were also pretty numerous, and the gentlemen of the colony were not backward in their attendance.

Of all things in the world, I so love to see a group of Creole ladies mingling in the sprightly dance; then it is that their spirits appear light and joyous, their hearts merry and glad, their conversation lively and interesting. From the ball room lassitude is expelled, and. “ ennui� dares not intrude itself into the fairy circle of so many charms and graces. If you pay a morning visit to a fair West Indian, you may find her reclining upon a sofa, indulging in that luxury of ease which the intolerable heat of a tropic climate appears to encourage and require. She may

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seem lovely and beautiful, but she will still be languid and oppressed : follow her to the ball room, “ elle a changé tout cela ;” the countenance which, in the morning, looked lovely in its languor, in the evening looks more than lovely in its smiles. She is lively and animated—and hour passes upon hour, and quadrille follows quadrille, and the morning dawns, and the dance continues unabated, and the fair Creole is neither tired nor fatigued.

Perhaps some of the most beautiful girls in the West Indies were of his Excellency’s party : those, however, who appeared to bear the belle, had but lately arrived from England, and were, I must confess, of surpassing loveliness. The dazzling whiteness of the Creole lily was delicately mingled with the redder tinge of the English rose; and in their manners were united the soft and amiable mildness of Creole conversation with the sparkling and animated sallies of English wit. I will confess, however, that the rose disappears, and the animation is dispelled by a long residence in the climate.

The young officers of the new corps were, doubtless, charmed with the scene; they at least entered into it with spirit; and their sweet partners in the merry dance appeared as much delighted with them as sweet partners usually are with the officers of his majesty’s army. Nevertheless, I observed that the ensigns and lieutenants of the old corps, also one or two of the gallant captains, would now and then heave a sigh of regret; but whether it arose from their departure from the green hills and valleys of

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the fair island of St. Vincent, or from their reluctance to leave some of the lovely inhabitants of the said green hills and valleys, I wis not.

The party had just finished the Spanish dance when the bands, for there were three present, played a march, in the midst of which supper was announced, and the gentlemen immediately handed their partners to the table.

Supper—loving reader, hast thou not discovered that I am the greatest gourmand under the face of Heaven ? that I am a tolerable bacchanalian, and an intolerable epicurean; that I am fond of Tacitus and turtle, of French and fricassee, of Latin and lobster sauce ? These very desirable qualities in an author, whose duty it is to mention the various names of the various niceties that grace the various tables of the various governors he may visit, will enable me to give thee a very perfect and delicate description of an equally perfect and delicate “ petit souper.”

First, then, in the midst of a very long table, around which sat, “ in closest order ranged,” a numerous family of our primeval mother Eve, stood a cake of huge foundation work, but which became, like the waists of some of our most fashionable modern “ debutantes,” “ Small by degrees, and beautifully less :”

that is to say, it rose to a majestic height, tapering off, like the London monument, to a majestic point, in which was planted the flag yclept Union Jack.

A lace petticoat was, moreover, the decoration that

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ornamented its base; and the sugar that covered, and the figures that adorned it reminded me of Twelfth Night, and Laura, and old England, and sundry other events, that tended not to make me merry. As there were many other cakes of minor size and importance on the table, it may not be improper to state that the large one I have just described stood “ Like a mighty giant in the midst of dwarfs;”

and being first cut and dissected by a gentleman whose Christian name was John, caused a would-be wit to remark, that we had Jack the giant killer at the supper table.

Independant of the cakes, there was a luxuriant display of every thing that could tempt the palate: fruit to the heart’s content, fowls, hams, Guinea birds, turkies, pastry, tarts, jellies, &c., all of which the indefatigable guests demolished in a greater or less degree, according to their appetites. “ Allow me, madam,” said a gentleman, who had a better opinion than other people of his own wit, to a silent lady opposite, “ to send you a little tongue.” “ No, I am obliged to you ; ” replied the fair Creole, who had a sheep’s head before her, “ but I “ shall have much pleasure in helping you to a little “ brains: ” alluding to his deficiency in that very essential part of a man’s caput. “ Miss C —” said our exquisite, whom I had forgotten to mention as being of the party, “ with “ your permission I’ll flirt with a jelly.”

Miss C — gave her permission, and the exquisite commenced his flirtation,

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The same petit-maître once asked, when paying a morning visit, if he should agitate the bell. “ If you please sir,” said a gruff old gentleman present, who had a great aversion to the dandy, “ and tell the servant to bring me my repository of “ titillating dust*,” an expression which he quoted from Joe Miller, in ridicule of our astonished exquisite.

But to return to the supper.—As the wines, which were of the first quality, began to exhilarate the guests, the gentlemen made many speeches, and gave many toasts. The healths of the King, the army, and navy, his Excellency the Governor, the Island of St. Vincent, and many others were drank in three times three. Colonel — rose, and, in a very appropriate speech, proposed the health of Lady Brisbane in a bumper. The toast passed with applause, for Lady Brisbane is greatly and deservedly esteemed in the colony. She has always well and ably filled her high situation, behaving to all around her with mild, yet dignified condescension; while the kindness of her disposition, the propriety of her conduct, and the goodness of her heart have gained from every one the love and esteem which her many virtues and noble qualities so highly merit.

The “ ladies of St. Vincent,” a toast given by his Excellency, was also enthusiastically received; and, indeed, it would have been morally impossible to gaze on the galaxy of loveliness before us without wishing health, happiness, and prosperity to the * A genteel term for a snuff box.

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fairy beings who composed it, for at that period the female society of St. Vincent was in the pride of its splendor, and beauty did not object to share its reign with innocence and virtue.

A few songs succeeded his Excellency’s toast; after which the party again resumed their dancing, and the morning gun had fired before the conclusion of the entertainment.

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CHAPTER XXIX. MOUNT SOUFFRIERE.

“ But we stood on the summit;—all feelings were crown’d, Or in awe all absorbed, at the fiery profound; The crater upflinging wild volumes of cloud, That rose from its depths like old Titian’s shroud; Then, caught by the tempest, rolled grandly away.

I forgot, for the first time, to long for the day.”

Letter of Lady Seraphina to the Court Journal.

period allotted for the stay of the government transports at St. Vincent was limited to one week; which was thought time sufficient for the disembarkation of the new regiment, and for the embarkation of the old.

Procrastination is one of the great failings of human nature. There were many officers of the — regiment who had not yet seen the celebrated volcano of St. Vincent, although they had been stationed in the island more than three years. To have left without seeing it would have been always a source of regret; — and S —, with Ensign therefore, Lieutenants L A —, determined on devoting three of the six days that remained to them to that purpose ; and, as I thought it a good opportunity, I resolved to accompany them.

THE

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Accordingly, on retiring from his Excellency's ball, instead of going to bed, to sleep off the fatigue of dancing, we all mounted our horses, and set off for the Souffriere mountain.

I have before mentioned the mighty and majestic chain of mountains that are seen towering towards the skies, and enveloped in clouds, which are prominent features in the Island of St. Vincent, and render its scenery so romantic and sublime.

The Souffriere, which is one of the loftiest of these island giants, is situated on the leeward side of the island, and lies more to the north than all the rest.

I will pass over our ride, and omit to recount the hospitality of the proprietors of the several estates that lay in our way; neither will I stay to number the many glasses of potent sangaree which contributed to keep up our spirits on the road. Suffice it to say, that we arrived in safety at the base of the mighty mountain; and, after riding part of the way up, were obliged to dismount, and pursue the rest of our journey on foot.

When we arrived near the volcano, the scene that presented itself by no means disappointed our expectations. I guessed it, as the American said, to be some eighteen hundred feet above the level of the sea, although the summit of the mountain extends, perhaps, nearly one third higher.

On the southern side of the mountain there is an extensive basin, four hundred and fifty feet deep, nearly round, and about four furlongs in width, in the midst of which, to the height of two hundred R 2

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and eighty feet, once rose a little mountain in miniature, if I may so call it, which was full of rocky fissures, and covered, in many places, with evergreens and shrubs. The huge crater has long since been in a peaceful state ; and a canoe is now floatingon its surface, in which the more curious visitors were sometimes wont to row round it for the purpose of sounding its depth. The mountain itself is again covered with trees; and the green verdure has, in many places, concealed the ravages made by its eruptions. As the fame of the Souffrière has spread far and wide, there are few persons who come to the colony, and make any stay, without visiting it. And amongst the residents there are many ladies whom curiosity has attracted to the spot, and who have surmounted all the obstacles of the ascent in their anxiety to view the present state of a volcano, which burst with an explosion of which the awful and fatal consequences will ever be remembered with terror and regret.

The last and most terrific of its eruptions was on the night of Thursday, the 30th of April, 1812, and a brief account of so memorable an event may not be unacceptable to my readers.

Ever since noon on the preceding Monday strong symptoms had been observed of the approaching crisis ; and, even before that period, numerous earthquakes had prepared the inhabitants of St. Vincent to expect some extraordinary event.

On that day, however, a violent concussion of the earth, and unusual sounds and noises in the air, in

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the vicinity of the mountain, were succeeded by the appearance of huge columns of smoke rising from the volcano, and by the falling of sundry showers of light pebbles, stones, sand, and ashes, on the lands around.

On Tuesday and Wednesday the fall of stones and ashes increased greatly, and the immense quantity of sand and favilla thrown up from the mountain spread all around, and was carried by the wind to a great distance across the island, obscuring the air, and destroying the vegetation and verdure of the surrounding plantations.

On Thursday the horrible and terrific appearance of the mountain, and the alarming progress and magnitude of the falling showers, while it plainly evinced that the event was near its crisis, and that an explosion would shortly take place, spread terror and consternation into the minds of all classes of inhabitants. The Charaibs in its vicinity immediately deserted their dwellings, and flocked to Kingstown; the estate negroes fled from their work, and concealed themselves, in alarm, wherever they could find a refuge from the masses of favilla that continued falling in every direction. Yet all this was only a prelude to the grand event that was about to follow.

The glorious sun was buried in its western bed ; the dusk of evening had approached, and at any other time, the negroes would have been retiring from their work, and the inhabitants of Kingstown taking their rides or promenades, and enjoying the

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cool air of the evening zephyrs ! but now every one sought shelter from the burning showers, and no one dared to venture out of his abode.

Between the hours of six and seven in the evening, the crater was observed to emit huge pyramids of smoke and flame, and shorly after the boiling lava burst in a torrent from its mouth, and having once found vent, continued overflowing, and covering in its progress all the country around, bearing down all obstructions, and unimpeded even by the lofty hills. The mass of burning sand and ashes that had fallen at times during the last three days, had dried and withered all the foliage about the mountain, so that when the fiery globes of flame burst from the crater, it communicated to the trees and shrubs, and consumed them with destructive rapidity.

It was a truly terrifying and overwhelming scene: the majestic Souffrière, in that awful moment, would not have been unworthy of Virgil’s description of Etna : “

“ “ “ “ “ “

By turns a pitchy cloud she rolls on high ; By turns hot embers from her entrails fly, And flakes of mountain flames that lick the sky !

Oft from her bowels massy rocks are thrown, And shivered by the force come piecemeal down; Oft liquid lakes of burning sulphur flow, Fed from the fiery springs that boil below.”

Dryden's Virgil.

The huge mountain shook from its foundation: and the protracted trembling of the earth was terrific in the extreme. It was, indeed, a dreadful night!

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and while the crater continued to emit smoke and flame, and lava and burning ashes from its bowels, the mighty elements afforded their assistance to render the scene more awfully and majestically grand.

The deep thunder rolled in loud and threatening peals, and the brilliant lightning as it passed in momentary, yet repeated flashes, threw a horrid wildness over the scene! meanwhile the earth groaned, and the people were on the brink of despair. So awful and tremendous was the roaring of the giant mountain, that it was heard in several of the neighbouring islands, like distant cannon; and in Barbados, Grenada, and Tobago, it was mistaken for the guns of an invading enemy, and the militia were, in consequence, put under arms.

The showers of sand, pebbles, and ashes also were not confined to the island of St. Vincent alone, they even fell in some of the other colonies, and darkened the atmosphere to such a degree, that many thought it was the approach of the day of judgment.

At three o’clock, A. M. on the morning of the first of May, a tremendous shower of large stones came rattling down upon the streets and housetops; there was then a general confusion, and every one sought a place of refuge from the huge fragments that continued falling.

Had the weight of the stones been in proportion to their size, there is no doubt but they would have crushed the roofs of the houses, and have killed every individual on whom they chanced to fall. As it was they did much mischief, although only seven deaths occurred; the fact is, they were rendered light, and

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deprived of their gravity from the excessive heat they had passed through.

A few houses were consumed by flames, and the whole island was covered with the lava, cinders, and other volcanic substances which the Souffrière had emitted from its crater.

The terrific earthquakes, with the tremendous and deafening sounds that issued from the bowels of the mountain, subsided towards the afternoon, but the Souffrière did not cease to be disturbed for a week afterwards ; and it was not until the 7th of May that its agitation passed off, and gave place to that calmness and tranquillity which it has ever since preserved.

It is somewhat extraordinary that a volcanic hill in the French colony of Martinique, called the Diamond Rock, emitted a considerable quantity of ashes and calcined earth during the eruption of the Souffrière.

The period in which this memorable event took place will never be forgotten by the West Indians.

St. Vincent still bears the marks of it; and, by the layers of petrified lava and hard black volcanic matter that still remain in many parts of the soil, it is easy to distinguish that some occurrence of this kind has formerly taken place in the colony.

Little real damage, however, was caused by the eruption, and many have given it as their opinion, that the island was rather improved than otherwise by its scattering of ashes. The estates in the neighbourhood of the mountain were the chief sufferers.

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CHAPTER XXX. THE CHARAIB WAR.

“ The island was internally troubled, during a long period, with all the horrors of a civil war.”

I RETURNED in safety from the mountain.—A week hath passed away since I went thither; the — regiment hath embarked. The transports have sailed, and I am already acquainted with nearly all the officers of the new corps.

But thou shalt hear more of this hereafter; now I am about to fly from fire to sword ; from the roaring of mountains to the roaring of cannon; from the eruption of the Souffrière, to my narrative of the Charaib war.

I commenced my tale with an account of the first proceedings of the rebels in the windward part of the island; let us now turn to the leeward quarter, where they were not less active.

Their first march was to Chatteaubelair, where their force was greatly increased by the numbers of French inhabitants who joined them in that quarter.

The French, nationally and individually, have generally shown themselves the enemies of the English; and it was hardly reasonable to expect from them a

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very faithful allegiance; yet they declared, that they were obliged rather than inclined to join the Charaibs in their insurrection. Their assertion, however, met with little credit, for it was shrewdly, and I believe justly, suspected, that they not only manifested their readiness to join the Charaibs, but that they were the principal instigators of their revolt.

The army of rebels having left Chatteaubelair, proceeded towards Kingstown, either setting fire to the estates on the road or seizing them in the name of Chatouay, their chief and commander, or some other person of consequence in their tribe.

It appears that they fell in with their companions in the windward part of the island on the following' Friday, when Chatouay took the command of the whole body, consisting of about four hundred and sixty persons, including the French and colored people, and marched it to Dorsetshire Hill, in the fortifying of which, they displayed much activity.

With the assistance of the negroes, whom they had taken, and whom they compelled to work, and the oxen, of which they had pillaged the estates, they contrived to get two pieces of cannon up the hill, which they mounted in a very advantageous position, and gave the inhabitants of Kingstown and Fort Charlotte no little alarm for their capital.— These, in their turn, made every exertion for a brave defence, and being joined by a detachment from Martinique, consisting of one company of the 46th regiment, under the command of Captain Campbell, commenced operations.

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Major Whytell with this detachment, aided by a considerable number of militia troops, and a few men of the 60th regiment, marched with two fieldpieces to Sion Hill; where, finding that the rebels were burning and plundering Greathead Estate, they directed a steady fire against them, and soon drove them to a more respectful distance.

Straggling parties of the Charaibs were now daily advancing near the town, and a few were observed on the estates in its immediate vicinity. As they concealed themselves in the plantations, it was found advisable to burn down all the canes on the properties near town, that they might not be able to advance unseen.

A party of sailors and marines were dispatched to join the English force on Sion Hill : they were taken from the Zebra, a sloop of war, which arrived in the harbour at a very seasonable period. The Roebuck coming in about the same time, and her commander tendering an offer of his assistance to dislodge the rebel force in possession of Dorsetshire Hill, his Excellency, the Governor, deemed it expedient to make an immediate attack on that post; for it could be no longer doubted that the Charaibs were in possession of cannon; and as their post commanded Sion Hill, it was by no means expedient that they should be allowed to retain it.

Accordingly the party destined to make the assault were ordered to assemble before Hartley’s house, at the hour of midnight. It consisted of a

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number of seamen and marines from his Majesty's ships, Roebuck and Zebra, and a party of sailors from the merchant vessels, headed by Lieutenants Hill and Groves, parties of militia and armed slaves under Major Whytell and Captain Campbell, also a company of the 46th regiment. The united force was placed under the direction of the commander of the Zebra, and commenced its march a quarter of an hour after midnight.

The troops proceeded on their way in solemn silence ; and in a short time had nearly reached the principal post of the enemy, when they were discovered by the sentinel, who immediately gave the alarm.

The Charaibs directly commenced a sharp fire of musketry, which the English did not return till they arrived within twenty yards of the enemy, when they fired and charged with the bayonet.

The Captain of the Zebra and Lieutenant Hill, with their seamen, were the first on the bank, which the other commanders mounted in another quarter.

After a short defence, the Charaibs retreated, being entirely routed; although their escape was greatly favored by the night.

Many who sought shelter in the barracks were put to the sword ; and Chatouay, their chief, was killed, with a few more Charaibs and French inhabitants.

On the side of the English there were five killed, and the same number wounded.

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The enemy left behind them two pieces of cannon; and at the break of day, were seen retreating with the utmost speed towards their own quarter of the island.

As Dorsetshire Hill, on account of its extent, was untenable, our party left it on the following day, and resumed their station at Sion Hill, where they carried one of the enemy’s pieces of cannon, and left the other spiked.

They next dispatched armed negroes in pursuit of the Charaibs; who after having dispersed them with success, returned with a few heads and prisoners to the town, which was now, comparatively speaking, in a state of safety.

It could not, however, be said that the enemy were either entirely subdued, or even less active in their operations. The detachment of militia, under Colonel Gordon, stationed at Chatteaubelair, effectually protected the plantations in the immediate vicinity of that quarter; yet the Charaibs contrived to set fire to several of the more distant estates ; and numerous parties continued to appear in the windward part of the island, burning the properties, plundering and butchering the negroes in the most barbarous manner, and committing the most horrid atrocities, whenever they found an opportunity.— The mills and sugar works of the estates of Sir W. Young, Mr. Greathead, Mr. Ross, and several others, also a great part of the town of Calliaqua, were fired by the rebels and entirely consumed. They likewise made a point of slaughtering all the unarmed slaves who fell into their hands.

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Kingstown and Fort Charlotte were now rendered perfectly secure by the arrival of the 42d regiment, in two government transports under convoy. At the same time, a Liverpool ship arrived at Calliaqua; and nine of the crew were landed to avoid being impressed by the men of war. A large party of Charaibs observing the sailors in Greathead’s Bay, surrounded and took them prisoners. A small detachment, from Sion Hill, was sent to their assistance ; but, unhappily, failed in the rescue.

To prevent a repetition of such an occurrence, as well as to cut off supplies from the enemy, forces were despatched at midnight, to take possession of Calliaqua. They consisted of a party of grenadiers and light infantry under Captains Hall and Campbell, with a few men of the 60th regiment headed

by Lieutenant Farquason.

After a sharp action, they succeeded in dislodging the enemy, who made great resistance, and in taking possession of the several posts; they also recovered the nine sailors, whom the Charaibs had not yet destroyed.

The Charaibs left behind them twenty killed; although, from their practice of bearing their dead from the field, it was impossible to ascertain the exact number destroyed in the action. The English party also lost a few men. Whilst they were in possession of the Charaib camp, the son of Chatouay was taken prisoner and butchered by the negroes.

In the meanwhile, Reader, a sheep hath been butchered in the market-place, and a prime leg

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thereof hath been superbly cooked for your poor book-maker; and Lieutenant S — of the engineers, hath promised to dine with me tête à tête, — so I will leave thee for a while, to eat my dinner, and listen to my worthy guest’s account of his last trip in the Tropics.

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CHAPTER XXXI. DOMINICA.

“ We next morning found ourselves under the lee of the high “ land of Dominica; and by midday were at anchor in the road “ of Roseau, the chief town of the island, one which at this period “ was rich and flourishing, possessing great beauty of situation, “ but considered, as was the island, one of the most unhealthful “ in the West Indies.”—Sketches and Recollections of the West Indies, by a Resident.

SCENE.—The hall of a West Indian dwelling-house, a small dining-table in its centre, Lieutenant S — of the Royal Engineers, and the Author reclining on a sofa.

Enter Mat with the dinner.—Mat rings the bell, and the gentlemen take their seats at the dinner-table.

Author. ALLOW me to send you a little turtle soup.

Lieut. S. By all means. Turtle is the soul of a West Indian dining-table.

Author. You say well; yet it is nothing without the punch. Turtle without punch is like roast beef without mustard, very bad for the digestion.

Mat [aside]. Begar, my massa one pig self. If eber he marry, he go lobe e belly better dan e wife.

Lieut. S. Granted; yet good punch is not always to be got. On my trip in T —’s little schooner we had the vilest stuff imaginable. Some of our poets

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talk of “ the bowel-racking pains of emptiness.”— Egad, you have no idea of the bowel-racking pains of bad punch.

Author. A propos of that trip of yours; where have you been to ? What have you seen ? Let me hear something of your peregrinations.

Mat [aside]. Me bin tink dat long word mean fireflies.

Lieut. S. I have been to Martinique, Dominica, and Montserrat, and seen, I believe, all that was worth seeing in those places. In the latter island my servant was careless enough to leave my portmanteau ; but those black fellows are all scamps.

Mat [aside]. He be dam.

Author. That’s true enough ; but how did you find Dominica, they tell me it is a dirty hole ?

Lieut. S. So it is ; and I was glad to get out of it.

It is a great pity that so beautiful an island should he so unhealthy, for the scenery is really delightful.

The mountains and valleys are of a different character from those of this island ; and I hardly know whether to give the preference to the cane fields that flourish here, or to the coffee plantations that cover the hills of Dominica.

Author. I am told the troops die off very fast there.

Lieut. S. They do; and not only the troops, but also the inhabitants of the town. The fact is, the valleys are exceedingly deep and marshy, and not being well drained, are probably the chief cause of the prevailing sickness.

Author. How do you like this Madeira ?

S

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Lieut. S. I think it excellent.

Mat [aside]. Ah! ah! you like all buckra den: you lobe good wine.

Lieut. S. I staid a month at Roseau, which is the capital of Dominica, and partook of some pleasant dinners given by the hospitable inhabitants. When I came away I had a present of two dozen of just such wine as this.

Author. A right comfortable gift, by my faith, and very considerate of the donor; but what sort of town is Roseau, how is it defended, what does it contain? do tell me, for I have always a desire to hear of what I cannot see. This spirit of curiosity is the only feminine part of my character, and I imbibed it from my aunt Josephine.

Mat [aside]. Massa aunte, dead long ago, yet he trouble her in e grave self.

Lieut. S. Nay, then, if you will have a description, I will endeavour to give one as prosy, particular, and precise, as the long stories of our friend C —.

Author. Hé bien ! commencez donc.

Lieut. S. Roseau, from the sea, appeared a very dirty town, and by no means inviting to a stranger.

However, when I landed, I found it better than it looked; the streets were long and well paved, the houses low, and well shingled. Its market-place is moderately large, and the town itself, considering there are women among its inhabitants, is more than moderately silent.

Mat [aside]. He, he, he ! dat no lie ; all women lobe talke.

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Author. Have they a tolerable church ?

Lieut. S. Yes; their church has a very good looking exterior; but it is by no means well attended, for there are few protestants in Dominica.

Author. What, then, is the prevailing religion ?

Lieut. S. The majority of the population are catholics; but there are also a considerable number of methodists, and their influence is greatly on the increase.

Author. The garrison, I think, is called— Lieut. S. Morne Bruce. This is a rocky hill, which rises to a considerable height above the town.

The barracks erected near it are by no means good ; the officers are sadly cramped in their little quarters ; and my friend O — could not give me house-room, so that I was obliged to put up in town.

Author. You have said well of the wine at Roseau, how are they off for water ?

Lieut. S. They have enough, and to spare; a river runs close to the town ; and indeed the whole country is well supplied with this necessary commodity. I know no island in the Antilles better watered than Dominica. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Roseau are too idle to bring it into the town, although the river is so close.

Author. Is Morne Bruce the only fort in the neighbourhood of Town?

Lieut. S. No; there is Morne Daniel beyond the river, Melville’s Battery, and Scotsman’s Head, also Fort Young, which commands the harbour.

Author. A propos of the harbour : is there much S 2

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shipping in the bay, and does the sugar trade thrive well?

Mat [aside]. Ah, ah ! massa lobe sugar; he make he sangaree like syrrup self.

Lieut. S. Of the sugar trade I really know nothing ; but I suppose it is much the same as at the other islands. I visited several estates, and also one or two extensive coffee plantations. But there were not many square rigged vessels in the harbour while I was staying at Roseau ; sloops and schooners were more common.

Author. Are there many fine buildings at Dominica ?

Lieut. S. There is a passable court-house, and also a tolerable residence for the Governor; but the present state of Roseau is not to be compared to what it was before the memorable fire of 1805, which nearly consumed it. About the same time it was taken and plundered by the French, and the English forces were obliged to retire to Prince Rupert's, a garrison in another part of the island. The colony of Dominica has been often the seat of war, and actions of no small consequence have been fought in its attack and defence. Like the other islands, it has been sometimes disturbed by insurrections of the slaves. It has also suffered from hurricanes; and earthquakes have been frequently experienced, though of no material importance.

Author. Are there many natural curiosities that distinguish Dominica from the other colonies?

Lieut. S. No, I cannot say there are. The most

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remarkable thing in the island is a very fine lake, a considerable height above the level of the sea. There are a few hot springs in the country, and the whole soil appears more or less volcanic; indeed there are many remains of ancient craters to be found, in which there are vast quantities of burning sand.

Among the live animals there are snakes, crabs, and crapauds in myriads, but the former are not venomous, and the two latter, when nicely dressed, are not unworthy to be called luxuries.

Author. Did you ride much about the country during your stay in the island ?

Lieut. S. No, I did not, the roads are not very good; besides which, you know I hate exertion.

Author. Then, I suppose, there are not many carriages in the town.

Lieut. S. No, there are very few; and indeed there is not much society. There was some lack of ladies, and after living in Barbados I could not bear that. If the worthy inhabitants had not been very hospitable, I should soon have been tired of the place: as it was I was not sorry when I left; and when I embarked again on board T —’s schooner, I welcomed the balmy breeze that sprung up in our favor, and carried us at the rate of six knots an hour toward the island of Montserrat.

Author. Well, I do not think your account will tempt me to Dominica. I prefer taking my bath in the morning, and my ride in the evening, in a more healthy island. Mat, take away the dinner.

Mat. Yes, massa.

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Lieut. S. And now, Bayley, you must not forget your promise to excuse me as soon as we had dined.

Your dinner was excellent; and, I have no doubt, your dessert will be as good : I should be glad to share it with you; but you know I must keep my engagement with the colonel.

Author. With the colonel! very good, ha! say rather with some fair creole in the neighbourhood of thy comfortable quarters on the hill. However, if you must go, you must; and so farewell. Only promise me a peep at the memorandums you made of your trip to Montserrat and Martinique.

Lieut. S. You shall have them to-morrow, and may keep them as long as you like. I hope you will be able to turn them to account. And now, Adieu jusqu’au revoir.

Exit Lieut. S — followed by Mat ; the Author leaves the dinner table, and throwing himself on the sofa, falls into a sound sleep: when the scene closes, and the curtain drops.

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CHAPTER XXXII. MARTINIQUE.

“ We were enabled to go on shore for an hour or two, and “ were much pleased with what we saw of this really beautiful “ town.” — Sketches and Recollections of the West Indies.

Mr friend kept his word. On the following day, shortly after I had breakfasted, Mat brought a brownpaper parcel from Lieutenant S —. I have the greatest objection to open a brown-paper parcel, because it was in such a one that I, some time back, received the melancholy intelligence of the death of a very old uncle, who had lived and died what is called a rich gentleman farmer: yet, reader, do not mistake the purity of my grief. I would not have you infer that I was inconsolable at his death; on the contrary, I consider it quite natural for old uncles to die. It was the poor man’s legacy that stung me to the soul. Would you believe it, he left me, instead of the thousand and one sterling, which I expected at his decease, five water-spaniels, a young greyhound and terrier, a fowling-piece, a fishing-rod, ‘ Walton's Angler,’ knowing I was fond of books, and two years’ file of the ‘ Sporting Calendar.’ Hence arose my objection to a brown-paper parcel.

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On opening the package of my friend Lieut. S — I was therefore agreeably surprised to find a very neat journal of his late trip to Martinique and Montserrat, accompanied by very lively and witty remarks on the several scenes he had visited, I did not forget his permission to turn them to some account: and after considerable trouble (observe I never grudge trouble to benefit my readers), I managed, by extracting some passages and altering others, to complete something like an account of one of these islands.

It appears, from my friend’s journal, that T—’s schooner made Martinique before she sailed for Dominica and Montserrat. As an engineer it is not surprising that he should have given a description of so remarkable a fortress as the Diamond Rock.

Martinique was not always in possession of the French ; and the memorable capture and defence of the Diamond, when under the charge of Captain Maurice of the navy, ought never to be forgotten by his countrymen.

This rock is some distance from the mainland, and several hundred feet above the sea. It has many cavities, and here and there a ridge towards the summit, on which the English succeeded in mounting several large pieces of cannon.

Their defence of the rock, in the month of June, 1805, was conducted with the usual gallantry of British sailors. Their firing did great execution among the enemy; and it was not until reduced to the utmost extremity, from want of water and amu-

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nition, that the little garrison could be brought to surrender to the whole French squadron, besieging them, consisting of two seventy-fours, a forty-gun frigate, a brig, a schooner, and eleven gun-boats; and there is no doubt but that they would have held out even against this force, could any means have been found of supplying them with water and provisions. As it was, their terms of capitulation were most honorable, and reflect the highest honor on the character and conduct of Captain Maurice.

Martinique is, perhaps, one of the finest colonies in the West Indies. — So says Lieutenant S—; and I will give the rest of his description in his own words: “ The scenery of this little island is beautiful, “ and the town by no means unworthy of it. The “ great houses of the estates, as we cruised along the “ coast, appeared to me more like the country seats “ of our English gentlemen than any others I had “ seen in the West Indies. I was much disappointed “ at not getting a peep at Fort Royale Harbour, “ which I had heard so much of. We passed it in “ the night; and it was with great difficulty that “ I could distinguish La Ramire through a night “ telescope, and one or two large vessels, that ap“ peared like men of war. “ About ten o’clock, A. M. on the following day, “ our little schooner made the capital, and glided “ gently into the harbour of St. Pierre. She was “ immediately visited by sundry people from the “ shore, and a boat from the frigate that was lying in “ the Bay. There was also a little armed schooner,

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which, I suppose, was a tender to the frigate.— The rest of the shipping consisted of a few French merchant vessels and small craft, with one or two little sloops from the English and Dutch colonies. “ At midday we landed; and I was not a little “ delighted with the town of St. Pierre. Really it “ is a beautiful place—perfectly European; and I “ know no town in our colonies to be compared with “ it. “ Towards evening I made my ‘ tour de la ville,’ “ and found the streets neat, regular, and cleanly, “ the houses good, lofty, and substantial, generally “ built of stone, and, from their European aspect, “ might lead a stranger to infer that the colonists “ had taken some of the minor cities of France as a “ model for their own. “ In some streets I saw an avenue of trees that “ greatly shaded the footpath; and I also noticed “ deepish gutters, with the water flowing through “ them. After a short stroll I went back to my “ hotel; there I found my dinner, which my hostess, “ I forget her name, had so impregnated with garlic, “ that I could hardly manage to eat it; and it was “ with the greatest difficulty that I persuaded her “ to omit that detestable ingredient in the future “ preparation of my meals. She never liked me “ afterwards; and the sprightly smile with which “ she greeted my first arrival relapsed into a sulky “ frown. I hate a woman in the sulks. Poets talk “ of pouting lips—pouting devils, I say—I can't “ imagine what people can find agreeable in a pout. “ I went early to bed, and slept well in my new “ “ “ “

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“ abode. The next morning I paid a visit to the “ churches. There are two in St. Pierre; both of “ them very good, and well fitted up. As the co“ lony is French, of course the religion is catholic. “ From the church I repaired to the Botanic gar“ den. It is not so extensive as the garden of St. “ Vincent; nevertheless, it is in a flourishing and “ daily improving state. “ On my return from the garden I determined to “ go shopping, as I had many commissions from my “ friends in St. Vincent. I was much pleased with “ my excursion ; the shops in St. Pierre are really “ shops, and not stores, as in the English colonies. “ The things were all arranged in a tasty and “ frenchified manner, ‘ comme à Paris;’ and there “ was a separate boutique for the various articles “ on sale. Every one sold something, but not every “ thing; and I could not, as in St. Vincent, buy a “ hat, a ham, and a yard of ribbon in one and the “ same store. “ I bought some beautiful gloves of French kid, “ at a very low price, for one or two of my fair “ friends, and many other things, which I knew it “ was impossible to procure good elsewhere. “ Champagne, noyau, annisette, and creme de Chili “ were among the drinkables, with a few light French “ wines; I also purchased oil, eau de Cologne, eau “ de vie, ‘ bon bons,’ sweetmeats, and many articles “ of dress. The large Leghorn hats of Martinique “ are superb, I got one for six dollars, which I “ thought very cheap. Ladies’ bonnets, jewellery,

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and other decorations for the fair sex are plentiful and tasty. Books may also be bought here; I saw several book shops in St. Pierre, which sufficiently prove that the inhabitants do sometimes read. “ In the evening I went to the theatre, which is “ a very tolerable one, and infinitely superior to any “ I had seen in the English colonies : the actors “ went through a little comic performance with a “ taste and spirit that far exceeded my expectations. “ The French must be amused, and their colonists are not like our English people, always going back“ “ ward and forward, to and from the mother country. “ France only was, but Martinique is the home of “ its inhabitants, and they are attached to it as such. “ The people of this colony have their friends and “ relatives about them, and it is only the merchants “ who require to carry on a regular correspondence “ with France; the people told me that they had no “ pacquets, and that all their letters were sent and “ received by the merchant ships. “ While I was in Martinique I saw two Charaibs, “ who came to St. Pierre, and heard that a few of “ that tribe were still remaining in the country. “ It is shrewdly suspected by a few, though with “ what justice I will not pretend to say, that even “ now supplies of negroes are sometimes smuggled “ from the coast of Africa to this Island. “ I was so charmed with Martinique and its “ beautiful little town, that it was with no small “ regret that I heard T — had settled his com“ mercial matters, and was ready to make sail for “ “ “ “

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“ Dominica and Montserrat. The next morning, “ however, I went on board his schooner, and, a fine “ breeze springing up, I bade adieu to this fair and “ lovely island, fully determined to visit it again as “ soon as I should have an opportunity.”

Reader, here endeth my friend’s journal, from what cause I wis not. I confess myself disappointed, for I thought jt had extended to the Island of Montserrat ; but I suppose, either that my friend did not think the said island worthy of notice, or that he had not perseverance to describe it.

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CHAPTER XXXIII. THE CHARAIB WAR.

“ The island was internally troubled, during a long period, “ with all the horrors of a civil war.”

reader will recollect that I left off my narrative of the Charaib war, at the time when the English had dislodged the enemy, taken possession of Calliaqua, and entrenched themselves on the surrounding heights.

Their next step was to dispatch Lieutenant Colonel Seton with a detachment of troops, and a few seamen under Lieutenant Grove of the Roebuck, to attack the Charaibs in the north of the island, who were committing their ravages under the command of Duvalle, who had been their chief since the death of Chatouay.

The troops sent on this expedition proceeded by sea, and having contrived to land, succeeded in routing the enemy, and in taking fourteen of their canoes, besides doing much mischief to the houses in their settlement.

The French shortly afterwards, by a timely reinforcement, enabled the Charaibs to take possession of and fortify the Vigie, and moreover to send nearly THE

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a thousand of their best troops to attack the English entrenchments above Calliaqua.

Before the attack commenced, a French officer was twice sent to summon the British commander to surrender. The British commander was not in a surrendering humour—British commanders seldom are; so he told the French officer to go his way—not in peace, but in war—for the English intended to fight and not to yield. The Alarm frigate coming in soon after, with her red-hot shot and her dauntless seamen, helped the gallant captain to keep his word and repulse the enemy.

The latter next attacked Dorsetshire Hill, which they succeeded in taking from the English; it was, however, immediately recovered by the British troops sent from Berkshire Hill, under Majors Seton and Whytell, and Captain Forster, who succeeded in routing the enemy, after an action that lasted nearly two hours. The Charaibs left forty-eight killed, and five prisoners behind them.

They were, however, in possession of the Vigie, a very advantageous post; this they continued to strengthen by fortifications, which they are said to have barricaded with sugar hogsheads filled with sand. Their main force was stationed on this hill; and on two smaller eminences, at no great distance, were posted their first redoubt and their advanced guard.

The British troops, under the command of Colonel Leighton, proceeded to attack them, and for that purpose divided into four separate corps. In this

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order they advanced from Warawarow River, and after defeating the redoubt and advanced guard, assailed the Charaibs, who had retired within their works, with shot and shell from two pieces of cannon and a mortar.

Finding themselves much annoyed, they sounded a parley; and whilst their messenger was pretending to treat with Colonel Leighton, they endeavoured to escape from their post. They were, however, discovered by the English, and charged in fine style.

They did not escape without leaving their post covered with dead and dying comrades.

Vigie being taken, Colonel Leighton having left it garrisoned, proceeded to Mount Young, where he encamped, and dispatched some troops to the assistance of Major Ecuyer in his attack upon Owia. The major took Owia; and the enemy, by an unexpected movement, passed over the mountains, and retired to Morne Ronde.

Colonel Provost, who commanded in that quarter, sent Lieutenant Moore with a detachment to attack the Charaibs ; but the lieutenant was killed, and his party put to flight. Shortly after they were again assailed by Colonel Leighton, who had been recalled from Mount Young, and who having taken up his position on the heights, in their rear, annoyed them so effectually with his cannon, that they thought proper to retreat in the night.

The Charaibs, however, returned to Morne Ronde two days afterwards, and took up their position on a pass that commanded their camp; and, being on a

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narrow forest ridge, was the most advantageous point for making an effectual resistance.

Against this point, however, the English directed their attack; and, after a sharp and spirited action, which lasted an hour, they succeeded in dislodging the rebels, who retreated, in consternation, to the woods, leaving behind them sixteen killed, and twenty prisoners, amongst whom was their chief and his aide-de-camp. They also left their camp and colours in possession of the English, with a fieldpiece and mortar, besides a small quantity of ammunition, and a few muskets, which they dropped in their flight.

A few days previous to this action a party of two hundred Charaibs had left the main body, and passed over the Wallilabo Heights, into their own country ; burning, in their progress, the works and residence of Mr. Hamilton and Dr. Tait, and murdering another gentleman who fell into their hands.

Our troops, in taking Morne Ronde, had got possession of one of the strongest posts in the island.

It would have been impossible to assail it by any other route than the Souffrière mountain ; and even by that way it would have been a matter of great difficulty, if the rebels had not previously shaped out a path for some purpose of their own. Morne Ronde was a position of geat consequence to the enemy, as it enabled them to procure supplies from the Island of St. Lucia.

The cruelties of the infuriated and barbarous savages, to all who fell in their hands, were of the most horrid and atrocious nature; and it reflects the T

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highest disgrace on all the French officers who joined, and, in many instances, commanded the Charaibs, that they had not prevented, or at least endeavoured to alleviate the sufferings of the unfortunate prisoners. How the people of any civilised nation could reconcile to their minds the office of witnessing, with unconcern, the diabolical tortures inflicted by a set of barbarians on the persons of Europeans, however much their enemies, I know not. It must have been revolting to humanity to behold an innocent and unconscious infant murdered at the breast of its lovely and affectionate mother when receiving from her its natural support, to behold savages presenting to a wife the head of her slaughtered husband, with a fiendish grin of mockery and triumph.

Such, and numerous other actions of the same nature, were the atrocities of the Charaibs: their prisoners were always murdered ; and a few men of the windward militia, whom they contrived to intercept, were put to death, by having their wrists and ankles severed by many blows from a blunt cutlass, and the infliction of other wounds on their bodies with the same weapon.

But to return to our narrative, Major Ecuyer, in obedience to the orders of General Meyers, who had now succeeded to the command of the British forces in the colony, commenced his march from Owia to Mount Young; but, finding it impracticable, was obliged to return to his former position, where his detachment was surprised and cut to pieces by six hundred of the enemy; only a few escaped.

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Whilst the Charaibs were in possession of Owia they took advantage of their position, to procure from St. Lucia those troops and supplies which the French were always willing to grant; and, in a short time, reinforced with a body of five hundred French soldiers, they made their appearance in Marriaqua Valley, and, on the 23d of September, took possession of Fairbain’s Ridge, by which movement they deprived the British troops under Colonel Leighton, who had withdrawn from Mount Young to Sion Hill, of any communication with their friends at the Vigie, who were without a supply of provisions.

Colonel Ritchie and Captain Forster were sent with an escort of troops to endeavour to furnish them with these necessaries. On their way they were attacked by a party of Charaibs, whom they would have defeated had not the troops fled at the very point of victory, when commanded to charge the assailants. No cause is assigned for this sudden panic, which enabled the enemy to take possession of all the provisions destined for the English garrison at the Vigie. They also made great slaughter among the men: those who escaped took refuge in Fort Duvernette.

It now became of the highest importance to send dispatches to the Vigie, with orders to the commanding officer of the garrison to withdraw from that post; and, in consequence of a reward of twenty-eight joes to a freeman, and of liberty to any slave who would undertake to be the bearer of such dispatches, Tamaun, a black negro, engaged to perform the T 2

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service, and, after a very narrow escape, succeeded in his purpose. The commanding officer received his papers, abandoned the Vigie in consequence, and conducted his garrison in safety to Fort Duvernette.

The enemy took post on the Vigie on its desertion by the English, and collected all their out-posts to strengthen their position.

At this period the English received a powerful reinforcement by the arrival of transports under convoy, with the 40th, 54th, and 59th regiments of the line; and troops were, therefore, immediately sent to take possession of the heights around the Vigie, in order to enable them to attack the enemy's post.

The Generals Irving and Meyers marched a thousand men to Warawarow Valley, and ascended Fairbain’s Ridge ; Lieutenant Colonel Strutt, with seven hundred and fifty, took the Calder Heights, while the eminences to westward of the Vigie were gained by Captain Boland, with three hundred and fifty men of the 40th regiment. The Vigie Ridge was the next point to be gained, and the two generals dispatched Major M‘Cleod on that service. He gallantly persevered in endeavouring to effect his purpose, under a heavy fire of musketry; he failed, however, and lost a hundred men in the attempt.

Fearful of a second attack from a larger force, the Charaibs abandoned the Vigie in the night, and withdrew to Mount Young and Mount William, where they fortified and entrenched themselves. In

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the meanwhile their old post was taken possession of by a drunken man, who had lost his way in the dark, and who, finding the important position he had gained, refused to deliver it up to the English troops under Lieutenant Kelly, who came to take it, until the said lieutenant had given him a receipt for the same.

About this time General Irvine was succeeded in the command by General Stewart, under whose direction the war continued.

The English having taken up their position on Forbes Ridge, were attacked by the enemy at three different places. They made a gallant, but ineffectual resistance; and were obliged to retreat to Biabou, where they were joined by Colonel Fuller, with two hundred men of the 40th regiment; and, having dispersed the enemy, marched to the heights about the Vigie. Their total loss in killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to three hundred and sixty three.

General Hunter now arrived from Martinique, and withdrew the British forces to the heights in the vicinity of Kingstown.

The Charaibs took possession of Dubois Ridge, where they mounted a small fieldpiece and mortar, and in the night discharged a volley of shot and shells, which coming from unpractised marksmen, were entirely ineffectual.

In the morning a detachment of the enemy, who had attacked Bowwood House, and committed much barbarity on its inhabitants, were assailed by Major Jackson, with a party of rangers; and, on that

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gentleman being seconded by Major Fraser, with another party, were routed and fled, leaving Bowwood House in flames.

At Miller’s Redoubt another party of the Charaibs were defeated by Major M‘Cleod; and, in the precipitancy of their flight, left behind them many of their muskets and cartouche boxes. On this ridge the English mounted a long six-pounder, which they directed against the enemy's position, and soon forced them to retire to the Vigie. Here they remained until the arrival of Sir Ralph Abercrombie, on the 8th of June, when they were enclosed and besieged in their position by the British forces, stationed around the heights on every side, and consisting of near four thousand strong.

The French found it beyond their power to resist the strong force and active measures now brought against them. They, therefore, surrendered themselves to General Abercrombie ; and four hundred and sixty fine men marched out of their garrison, with all the honors of war, and were sent on board the British ships, leaving the Charaibs to fight their own battles.

Deprived of the French assistance, diminished in force, reduced in numbers, fatigued with the length of the war, and finding their enemies more powerful than ever, the Charaibs could do little more; and, after one or two skirmishes of slight importance, and a treacherous attempt to deceive the English, which proved unsuccessful, they were totally subdued.

On the 4th of July seven hundred and twenty-five

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brigands, and four thousand six hundred and thirtythree Charaibs, men, women, and children, surrendered to the British troops, and were immediately sent out of the colony to the island of Baliseau, one of the Grenadines, whence they were shortly after transported to the Island of Rattan, in the Bay of Honduras.

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CHAPTER XXXIV. PAST AND PRESENT STATE OF THE CHARAIBS.

— “ Since I saw you last, “ There is a change upon you.”

Shakespeare.

English were excessively glad of the conclusion of the long and troublesome Charaib war; and I am not less pleased at the conclusion of my narrative, which to me hath been equally long and troublesome.

If it be disagreeable to hear, it is still more so to write of barbarities; and of a verity, the Charaibs were not idle in their execution. I could relate atrocities that would make my reader’s “ blood run cold ;” but, as I know that to be a very unpleasant sensation, I shall forbear. The island of St. Vincent was certainly the scene of war more than of insurrection, for at that time the Charaibs were a numerous and warlike race, and the powerful assistance they received from the French rendered them no despicable enemies. The mere fact of their maintaining a war, from 1794 to 1796, against the whole English force, commanded by an experienced general, sufficiently proves that theirs was not the mere insurrection of a handful of rebels, that might be quelled, like many others, in a single week by active and THE

decisive operations.

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A brief history of what the Charaibs were, and a short comparison of their ancient, with their present state, manners, and customs, will, I am convinced, be interesting to the reader.

Many and various have been the traditions handed down to us respecting the original Charaibs found in the West India islands by the first settlers. All writers, however, agree that there were two races of people in these islands, who differed in color, one being black and the other red. In the island of St. Vincent immense numbers of both classes were found by the French, who went thither under pretence' of assisting the black Charaibs against the red, with whom they were at war. Of the different traditions that pretend to account for the appearance of the black Charaibs, I am inclined to give most credit to that which asserts, that a merchant vessel from Africa, with a cargo of negroes, was wrecked on the coast, and that those who swam on shore were received by the red Charaibs with marks of kindness, and suffered to dwell among them as their own brethren.

If this account be true, the red people are the original Charaibs, and the blacks are only to be regarded, like the French or English inhabitants of St. Vincent, in the light of settlers. This supposition is also rendered more probable, by the very marked distinction between the two races. The manners and customs, the characters and dispositions, the ideas and propensities of the blacks differed in every respect from those of the red inhabitants ; and the

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diminutive stature and small features of the latter were in direct contradiction to the tall, stout, and hardy race, with whom they were continually at war, until they found it necessary to unite their forces against their common enemies, the French.

The Blacks are now exterminated in St. Vincent, and the original inhabitants, the red Charaibs, are reduced to a very small number. A vast change in the race has been effected since the island has been in the possession of Europeans.

Little doubt exists of the original Charaibs having been Cannibals, and maintained the barbarous practice of devouring their enemies. They were, also, a very warlike race, which is sufficiently proved by the obstinate battles between them and their early enemies, the Blacks; and, in later times, by their many engagements with the French and English forces, in their attemps to make a settlement; and afterwards when that settlement was firmly established. From Bryan Edwards, and more ancient historians, we learn that an independent spirit prevailed amongst them, and that they had the utmost dread of, and contempt for an enslaved condition.

Their tenacity of infringement, and their dislike ot foreigners were marked features in their characters; yet they were represented as being quiet and peaceable among themselves, and seldom engaging in domestic quarrels. “ Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori.�

According to old tradition, not so, thought the Cha-

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raibs ; love had small influence over them ; they scorned the arrows of the little divinity, and hardly acknowledged Venus to be a goddess worth the worshipping ; and yet polygamy was in full force, and few of these fellows had less than six wives—six actual wives ! Oh ye gods and little fishes ! what an arduous undertaking for a single man to establish peace and order in such a household; what a labor for Hercules ; what an achievement for the giants of old. Who, in future, shall dare to question the skill of the Charaibs; for my part, reader, I am acquainted with many virtuous and scientific gentlemen, perfectly civilized, who find an insurmountable difficulty in managing one—only one wife ; but who, let me ask, who in the present generation, possessing the smallest quantum of reason and common-sense would be bold enough to marry six, and make them keep the peace.

It would be a far easier task to pay the national debt, and we all know that to be difficult indeed.

But to continue—War and not love was the element of the Charaibs. They delighted in warlike weapons, and were uncommonly skilful in using their bow and arrows. Their persons were short and stout; and according to Edwards, “ their limbs flexi“ ble and active, and there was a penetrating quick“ ness and a wildness in their eyes that seemed an “ emanation from a fierce and martial spirit.”

In the education of their children, they pursued every means that could tend to render them fierce, hardy, and courageous ; their first care was to make their offspring perfect in fishing, building huts,

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swimming, and diving; and above all, to see them skilful archers. They inculcated in their minds a love of cruelty, and a thirst for the deepest revenge against their enemies; and by superstitious ceremonies on the birth of a male child, they imagined themselves able to transfer to it the courage and fortitude of its father.

As their children increased in age, they resorted to the most barbarous and cruel practices to try their courage, whipping them in the most unmerciful manner ; and on the eve of manhood the ceremonies performed were both tyrannical and disgusting.

They used to paint their faces with a deep crimson color by way of ornament; the men cut terrifying figures on their cheeks in order to frighten their enemies, and frequently wore feathers through holes which they perforated in their nostrils. They also hung about their legs and arms the teeth of those whom they had slain in battle.

These few particulars will serve to display the most marked features in their character; for a more detailed account of their ancient manners, and of the many superstitious ceremonies prevalent amongst them, I refer my readers to Bryan Edwards and other historians who have treated such subjects more extensively than there is either room or necessity for in the present volume. Indeed I should not have referred to their former habits, had I not wished to mark the contrast between the Charaibs of that distant period and those now residing in St. Vincent.

I should suppose that the total number of Cha-

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raibs now in the colony would hardly amount to one thousand, including men, women, and children.

These reside together in a fine quarter of the island, called the Charaib Country, which is the only really level ground in St. Vincent. It is, however, of considerable extent, and there are carriage roads for the distance of twenty miles.

On this part of the island, which they consider as belonging peculiarly to themselves, they have little dwelling houses neatly erected after their own fashion, and provision grounds, which produce their sustenance.

Instead of their former active and warlike spirit, they have relapsed into a quiet, idle, inoffensive, and, I may almost say, torpid existence, without any animation, and with a perfect hatred of all exertion.

Perhaps they still continue crafty and revengeful; but their cruelty appears to have deserted them entirely, and they do not seem alive to any of their former feelings.

They are too idle to pay much attention to their grounds; and provided they procure yams and taniers enough to boil with their fish (of which they generally have a considerable quantity, because it is caught without labour), they are perfectly satisfied, and do not trouble themselves about gaining a surplus to sell in the market.

They are, however, fond of rum; and in order to procure it, they make very neat baskets, called Charaib baskets, which are sure to find a ready sale.

These baskets are as pretty and convenient as any

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thing I have seen in the West Indies. They arc made of narrow pliant slips of a wood peculiar to the country, which are platted closely together, and afterwards dyed brown. They are sometimes made in sets, that is, one very large one, containing a number of others, which continue to diminish in size towards the centre, and the last of the set is generally curiously small.

This kind of work would, if well followed up, bring them in a pretty little revenue; but they have become, unfortunately, too lazy to have any cares beyond those of eating, drinking, and sleeping: and they seldom repair even to such light work as the making of these baskets without they are distressed for money to buy rum. I gave an order to two of these Charaibs to make me a set, and although I remained nearly eighteen months longer in St. Vincent, they had only completed half by the time I left the colony.

The Charaibs have still a king in their little village, who passes in Kingstown by the name of Charaib Daniel. He is a very old man, and on account of some service which he did for the government in the late war, he is recompensed with rations from the Commissariat stores.

He comes monthly to New Edinbro’ to fetch them away, and always appears to think the length and labour of the journey far exceeding the worth of the rum and flour which he carries home with him.

Many a time and oft have I shaken hands with the old boy when he honored the officers of his Majesty's

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Commissariat department with his monthly visits, and those only of my readers, who have shaken hands with a sovereign, can tell the sensation I experienced; yet even they might be at a loss, for his Charaib majesty was by no means like any of the sovereigns of Europe.

Fancy an old man arrayed in clothes little better than those of a beggar of high degree, who if not exactly a sans culotte, was, at all events, without shoes or stockings; his nose large and extensive, and his eyes small and sparkling, his stature diminutive, his head flat, his body small, his legs thin, and his trowsers tucked up to his knees, with a bag thrown over his shoulder, trudging with the pace of a sloth “ up hill and down dale,� and finally making his entree into the Commissariat stores, and demanding his rations of the issuer, with all the gravity of a judge.

Such was his majesty when I first beheld him, and clasped his olive-coloured hand bedewed with the perspiration occasioned by a long walk across the mountains, against mine own white and delicate palm, which I afterwards cleansed with a proper proportion of superior Windsor soap. I should have hesitated ere I performed such an achievement on a common individual of his tribe; but I could not resist the honor of shaking the hand of a king—to kiss it would have been another matter, and by no means so attractive an office. Besides, I consider it perfect degradation to kiss the hand of any thing less than a woman, or the toe of any thing less than a Pope.

On hearing I came from England, he made many

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polite inquiries after his brother George de King of the Buckra country, hoped he was doing well, and asked me if he was fond of rum. I was not aware, I replied, that our sovereign had ever expressed any particular liking or antipathy to so wholesome a beverage; but supposed it was a drink which his Charaib majesty might be inclined to patronize ; whereat he grinned, and said he thought it very good tuff, and, moreover, that all his subjects thought so too.

We had, after this, a long talk together about various other things; and his majesty concluded the conversation by inviting me to go and see him at some future period.

About a fortnight after, I rode alone to the Charaib country, and paid a visit to the old gentleman in his little cottage. He made me quite welcome, and asked me to dinner, I staid from mere curiosity, and he gave me some fish and fowl, with a glass of the “ very good tuff” before-mentioned. The old fellow had still his five wives, but he did not seem to care much for any of them. They cooked his victuals, took care of his fowls, and did any thing else they were told. The Charaibs were always famed for the neglect of their women, and they seem to have preserved this very bad quality above all others. Daniel has still a little authority among his subjects; but their way of living is so peaceable and inoffensive, that there is seldom any occasion for his interference; and, indeed, he is too lazy to trouble himself much with their affairs. Their numbers decrease yearly; and it is probable that in a short time there will be

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none left in St. Vincent. They keep completely to themselves, and it is quite a rarity to see one of them in Kingstown.

After having dined, I left his majesty’s palace, and in it half a dozen good segars, with which he was excessively pleased, for all his tribe love smoking.

He gave me in return a very pretty souple jack, with the head curiously carved. It is not thicker than my thumb, so that in case I am ever married, it will do for my wife when she is in the sulks, or says, “ I “ wont, my dear.” It will make an excellent crabstock, which, by the way, is an excellent thing in a case of emergency. “ The olive branch, Minerva’s boon, “ Betokens peace and quiet; “ But ’tis sage Hymen’s gift alone, “ Can quell domestic riot. “ For ’tis a maxim long maintained, “ By statesmen and logicians, “ That peace is most securely gained “ By vigorous politicians. “ Oh! the crabstock! “ The green immortal crabstock! “ The sturdy shoot “ Quells all dispute, “ The wonder-working crabstock.”—J. Hughes.

That was a capital song, and Hughes deserves great credit for writing it. I, at least, am very much obliged to him, for it hath taught me a good maxim, and comes in very a propos at the end of my chapter.

U

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CHAPTER XXXV. MISCELLANIES.

“Not much of any thing, but a little of every thing.”

bells of the estates were ringing, to call the negroes to their work ; the sound of the merry conch shells struck upon my ear, as the drivers blew the sonorous blast that summoned their gangs to the field ; the bland breeze of the morning passed softly through the trees, the sun was peeping over the eastern hills of St. Vincent, and darting his splendid beams into the green valleys below, the dew was updrawn from the wild flowers that grew by the road side, and the negroes were driving their cattle to the rich pasture lands, when, returning from my morning ride, I beheld the signal for the packet and a sloop, waving in the breeze, on the flagstaff at Dorsetshire Hill. I was glad to see this signal; for the packet had been long expected, and there were now three due in the colony, which had been kept back by contrary winds. I went home and breakfasted; pleasure always sharpens my appetite, so I did ample justice to the roast yam and caviched fish which Mat had taken so much pains to get dressed for me: after which I repaired to the post-office, where I found many others waiting, with anxious looks, for THE

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the opening of the important window from which the letters are delivered.

The scene around a West Indian post-office is by no means uninteresting to an observer, and I have often experienced much pleasure in witnessing it.

The sight of the packet from England occasions a great sensation among the colonists ; and the moment it makes its appearance in the harbour the post-office is beset with a crowd of visitors of all classes.

The lawyers from their offices, the merchants from their stores, the officers from their garrison, the soldiers from their barracks, the captains from their ships, and the planters from their estates, all flock thither, and wait, with the greatest impatience and anxiety, to hear the news in the mother country, and to receive their letters from home.

Here, walking to and fro beneath the covered gallery, or taking their seats on the benches, they converse together on various topics, until the opening of the first window, which announces that the newspapers are ready for delivery; 'then they rush like soldiers to charge, as eager for their papers as troops are for victory : the parcels are opened in a moment, the news spreads like a pestilence in a plague-struck city; and before ten minutes have passed away every one is acquainted with what is going on at home.

This word at home is the common expression of the West India settlers. England, Scotland, or Ireland is still their home. Unlike the inhabitants of the French colonies, they look upon the island in U 2

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which they reside as a place to which they are, as it were, exiled for a certain period; as a place containing' their properties, and, therefore, of the greatest consequence to them ; but very few of them expect to die on those properties. Those who can afford it are in the habit of making trips every three or four years to the United Kingdom; and nearly all look forward to spending their last days in the land of their birth. This feeling, however, exists less in Barbados than in the other colonies; and yet I have seen a Barbadian excessively anxious about the affairs of the mother country; and I have heard him argue the catholic question with an Englishman as vehemently as if he expected to become one of the emancipated. But to return to the post-office.

We had been waiting some time, in expectation of seeing the packet make her appearance round Cane Garden Point, when a little sloop, for which I had seen the signal made in the morning, scudded into the harbour, and attracted the notice of the crowd around the office. She was, certainly, a stranger; for her private signal was unknown to any of the merchants, and nobody could guess where she came from. The harbour-master went off, and, after two or three tacks, brought her to an anchor; and the captain came on shore to take his papers to the custom house.

As the anecdote which accounts for the appearance of this little sloop is somewhat extraordinary, I will relate it to the reader.

Every one has heard of the little fishing smacks

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employed in cruising along the coast of Scotland, which carry herrings and other fish to Leith, Edinburgh, or Glasgow, worked by three or four hardy sailors, and generally commanded by a low Scotchman, only fit for that service, and with no other knowledge of navigation than that which enables him to keep his dead reckoning, and to take the sun with his quadrant at noonday.

It appears that a man who owned and commanded one of these coasting vessels, and had, besides, a little money in the pouch of his woollen breeches, had been in the habit of seeing the West India ships load and unload in the several ports of Scotland, and having learned that sugar was a very profitable cargo, half determined, by way of speculation, on making a trip to St. Vincent, and returning to the Scottish market with a few hogsheads of the said commodity.

Yet Sawney was prudent, and looked before he leaped. Ere he resolved he hesitated— “ To be or not to be? This is the question, “ Whether ’tis well to hoist the mainsail up, “ And, letting fly the jib, to seize the helm, “ Steer for St. Vincent in my little smack, “ And try my fortune in the sale of sugar; “ Or to put on my woollen pantaloons, “ And, when the wind is blawing like the devil, “ To fish for herrings on the Scottish coast.”

Sawney compared the disagreeables of the latter with the advantages of the former question, and at length decided on making the trip. The natives

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were perfectly astonished; they had never heard of such a feat before, and they deemed it quite impossible that a mere fishing smack, worked by only four men, and commanded by an ignorant master, should plough the boisterous billows of the Atlantic, and reach the West Indies in safety ;—yet so it was.

The hardy Scotchman got his freight on boardmade sail—crossed the Bay of Biscay in a galegot into the trades, and scudded along before the wind, at the rate of seven knots an hour, trusting to his dead reckoning all the way. He spoke no vessel during the whole voyage, and never once saw land until the morning of the thirty-fifth day, when he descried St. Vincent right a-head; and, setting his gaft-topsail, ran down, under a light breeze, along the windward coast of the island, and came to anchor about eleven o’clock under the circumstances beforementioned.

He remained about a month at St. Vincent, during which time he used to walk about the town in the same garb which he wore in Scotland, when the snow covered the ground and the ice was frozen in the rivers. His thick flannel shirt, his blue cloth jacket, his grey trowsers, and his worsted stockings, all maintained their seat on the athletic limbs of the gallant captain; and though the tropic sun shone upon his body, and the perspiration oozed from every pore, “ I’m a’ in a muck,” and “ this, this is a muckle hot land,” were the only murmurs of complaint that ever burst from his contented lips. At the expiration of a month he left St. Vincent to

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return to Scotland, carrying with him a few hogsheads of sugar, and a few puncheons of rum ; his little smack never afterwards made her appearance in the harbour, but I sincerely hope that the worthy Scotchman arrived safely at home, and disposed of his little cargo to good advantage.

In the meanwhile, reader, the packet made her appearance, and not only the packet, but also the Leeward Island mail boat. This latter circumstance caused a little delay in the delivery of the parcels; at length, however, the important window opened, and while many got their letters, others received only a mournful and melancholy no to their ardent and anxious inquiries.

I think I shall never forget the look of deep sorrow with which Lieut. H. turned away from the office.

The sigh that came from his bosom, and the tear of disappointment that fell upon his cheek, at finding that those letters, which were his heart’s consolation, had failed of arriving both by this and by the previous packet.

As soon as the crowd had a little dispersed, I made my inquiries at the window, and received three letters, being'two more than I expected. I looked at the seals, two of them I knew not, but the third I recognised in a moment. It had no ornament, no idle and fantastic decoration; the inscription was plain and beautiful—“ toujours fidèle.” It came from Laura, and I opened it in ecstasy.

Oh, if joy and gladness may enter into the heart of a wanderer from his native home; if happiness in absence may be his at any time, it is, surely, at such

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moments as these; when he receives assurances of unchanged affection from those whom he esteems the most, when she, whom he adores, declares herself toujours fidèle !” For after all, the land he loves best is the land of his birth, and his dearest home the home of his fathers ; but the song that is sweetest to his ear, when away from these, is the melancholy SONG OF A WANDERER. heart is with my Father land,* Though far from its fields I roam, On hills where the breezes soft and bland Waft the scent of the bright flow'rs home ; By tropic gales are my temples fann’d, Yet I sigh for the breath of my Father land t MY

II.

Though nature does all her pomp unfold, To catch my wandering eye ; I turn from her charms with feelings cold, Or pass them unheeded by : While the light of memory’s magic spell, Hallows each scene in my native dell.

III. The birds flit by in joyous flight, On wings of the rainbow’s hue ; Or glittering round like gems of light, Sip from each flower the dew : † But no warblings sweet from their throats arise, Like the wood notes wild of my native skies. * “ What theme can be more elevating than a bard chanting “ to his ‘ Father Land;’ as the Hollanders called their country."

D'Israeli. † Bullock observes, when speaking of the humming-bird, that “ the sides of the laminae, or fibres of each feather, being of a “ different color from the surface, will change, when seen in a “ front or oblique direction; and as each laminae or fibre turns

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IV.

The lofty palm with its shadowy plumes, Waves in the sun-bright air; The earth is rich with gorgeous blooms, And starlike flowers are there : But a sweeter breath the flow’rs exhale, That drink the dews in my native vale.

V. Though each mountain path is arched across, By the Ferntree’s feathery spray ; * And the verdant hues of the velvet moss Gleam bright in the rock-hewn way ; O’er each craggy slope of my native dells, The purple heath shakes its fairy bells, VI.

Though from the foliage-shaded hills, The sparkling waters rush, And gleaming round a thousand rills In the rays of the morning blush !

There’s many a torrent rainbow spann’d, Glides over the rocks of my native land. upon the axis of the quill, the least motion, when living, causes “ the feathers to change, suddenly, to the most opposite hues. “ Thus the one from Nootka Sound changes its expanded throat “ from the most vivid fire colour to light green; the topaz-throated “ does the same ; and the Mexican star changes from bright crim“ son to blue.”—(See Six Months in Mexico, chap. xxi.) As these beautiful little creatures usually keep on the wing, when in the act of extracting the saccharine moisture contained in flowers, it is scarcely possible to describe the refulgent variety of hues their plumage exhibits, during their rapid progress from blossom to blossom. ' The arborescent ferns (polypodium arborem, &c.) frequently rise to the height of twenty-five and thirty feet ; their majestic fronts upwards of twelve feet in length, expanding at the top like a magnificent plume of feathers.

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Though the midnight skies are burning bright, With many a dazzling star, The softer gleam of my own moonlight To me is dearer far, When its faint and silvery hues are cast O’er hills where the days of my youth were past.

VIII.

For what are these scenes so soft and fair, The gales that sweetly blow— The blossoms of earth, or the birds of air, Or the skies in their moon-bright glow.

If the lonely heart must at distance pine From those on whom all its hopes recline ?

IX.

The grass that springs on our fathers’ graves Full many a thought endears— There’s a spell in the humblest shrub that waves Near the home of our infant years— Yea, the simplest leaf does our fondness share If its parent bud expanded there.

X. Oh, thus! though far on a foreign strand, My lonely lot is cast; Still, still for thee, my Father land, The pulse of my heart beats fast; While many a vision, soft and bland, Bears me back to thy shores, my Father land.* * For these very beautiful ‘‘ Original Verses” I am indebted to T. C. Smith, Esq. of the 27th Regiment, who kindly inserted them in my Album, when in St. Vincent. I hope he will forgive me for making them known to the public, in the pages of a work which they will adorn with the poetical feelings that distinguish them throughout.

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The other letters I received were from Colonel B — at Antigua, and Lieutenant L — at St. Kitts, in which each of those gentlemen kept their promise of giving me a description of their several stations.

A celebrated author once remarked, that we might judge of a man’s character by his letters; and there is more truth in the observation than many are willing to allow. The letter of Colonel B — was a type of his character, and the very precise and correct description which he has given of the Island of Antigua, is exactly what I expected from a person of his manners and habits. The letter of Lieutenant L— , who was as wild and unsteady as the Colonel was sober and sedate, was quaint, lively, and amusing, containing much nonsense and little information, yet the tout ensemble was by no means uninteresting, and my readers shall have it with the other, that they may compare the grave with the gay, and see which they like best.

As soon as I had read the intelligence I received by the packet, I recollected that I had two engagements for that day, both of which I intended to keep. The first was to witness the issue of a wager —and the second to attend a maroon given by the Governor in the Botanic Garden.

The wager was between a young merchant of the island and the master of a little schooner famous for her fast sailing.

The master had engaged to carry the said schooner from Kingstown Bay to the Island of Becquia, which

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lay opposite, in the short space of forty minutes, the wind being in his favour. The sum to be received on success was to be forfeited in case of failure. The usual time for making the trip was an hour and a quarter, and the vessel that could go in an hour was considered a fast sailer. The schooner sailed and reached Becquia five minutes beyond her time; the wager was consequently lost. One of the gentlemen who went, like myself, to observe the scene, informed me that a wager of the same nature had been laid some years back. A man of a desperate and decisive character, engaged to take his vessel over in twenty minutes, and the sum at stake was proportioned to the danger of the undertaking. An immense concourse of people having assembled to witness the spectacle, the man went on board his schooner, and set sail with a firm resolution to carry his purpose, or run his vessel down in the attempt.

From the known hardy and courageous, yet rash and desperate character of the man, there were many bets in his favour, and from the apparent impossibility of the achievement, there were also many against him.

Fortune, however, seemed propitious—the sea was slightly ruffled, the sky clear, the breeze stiff and steady, and the little vessel, with all her sails full, seemed rather to fly than to sail through the water.

The captain stood on her deck with a timepiece in his hand, watching with desperate anxiety every moment as it passed : ten minutes had expired, and the schooner was not quite half her distance. A shout of

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triumph burst from the opposing party on the shore, and the captain stamped on the deck with rage and indication. “ Give her more canvass !” cried he to the crew, “ more canvass, I say !” One of them attempted to remonstrate—the captain looked at him, that look was enough—the man said no more; the extra sail was slowly set, and every eye on the land was strained to see the issue. The sail filled in a moment, the breeze freshened, and the little schooner darted under the wave, and was never seen again above the blue waters of the Atlantic.

The crew had provided for their safety, by cutting the cordage that bound the boat to the deck, and happily escaped drowning. The desperate commander, who had but one arm, was the only person on board who sank with his little vessel into the dreary depths of ocean.

The gentleman ceased his recital, and I returned home to take my customary afternoon nap, before joining the party in the Botanic Garden.

The sofa being elastic, and the frame, not of the sofa, but of your humble servant, good reader, being somewhat exhausted and fatigued, I reclined quietly thereon; and, whilst pondering on the sinking of the unfortunate schooner, I sunk myself into a sweet and peaceful slumber.

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CHAPTER XXXVI. ANTIGUA.

“ No island in this part of the West Indies can boast of so Bryan Edwards. “ many excellent harbours.”

THE maroon at the Botanic Garden was given by Sir Charles Brisbane to the officers of a sloop of war, which had arrived the previous day; and the party invited to join them was numerous yet select. Being an admiral himself, and a very gallant one, Sir Charles always made a point of paying attention to the officers of the navy: and the arrival of a man of war was ever the signal of approaching gaiety.

On this occasion the party was as lively and sprited as usual; and no pains were spared to make the guests enjoy themselves. It was very amusing to see the pleasure which the young midshipmen seemed to experience, and the great glee with which they danced.

The champagne was briskly circulated, and aided materially to render the conversation lively and general. Our exquisite, who was present, and whom I was now in the continual habit of meeting in society, grew quite talkative, and of course quite amusing Repeated toasts were given, and healths drunk, one

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after another in three times three: each toast was generally accompanied by a speech, and succeeded by a song; and the applause that followed both proved them to be enjoyed.

I was fortunate enough to be seated during dinner by the side of the surgeon of the man of war, whom I found a very intelligent man, with amazing powers of conversation, and an inexhaustible fund of anecdote.

He had been a long while in Greece, and very intimate with Lord Byron; he was a great admirer of the matchless poetry of that talented nobleman, and related many surprising instances of his genius. One of his anecdotes I have never seen in print; and as it concerns one who ranks so high in the world of literature, I may perhaps be pardoned for inserting it. “ Lord Byron,” said the doctor, “ had been one “ day writing a few hours before dinner, and left off “ at the end of the following line— ‘ Gallant Hector, noble son of Priam. ’

“ The noble poet was in the habit of taking a con“ siderable quantum of wine after dinner, and on this “ day he had contrived to make himself effectually “ tipsy. This did not, however, prevent him from “ resuming his writing in the evening; and after en“ deavouring for a few minutes, but without success, “ to find an appropriate stanza to follow the above “ line, he again repeated it aloud— ‘ Gallant Hector, noble son of Priam,’

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“ then throwing himself back in his chair, he ex“ claimed— ‘ No man was ever half as drunk as I am, ’

“ and content with having thus completed the coup“ let, deserted his book for a siesta, or evening nap.”* The spirit of his Excellency’s party continued unabated during the whole evening, and I was never present at a more delightful and pleasant maroon.

It was near ten o'clock when the guests left the Botanic Garden and proceeded to their several homes.

The magnum bonum which I had taken of champagne and madeira, contributed to make me sleep; and instead of taking my usual morning ride, I remained under the influence of Somnus till I was awakened by a salute from the batteries at Fort Charlotte, which was returned by the sloop of war, and announced that the latter was taking her departure. I then rose and breakfasted, after which I turned to the perusal of Lieutenant L —’s letter, and was greatly amused by his original description of St. Kitts ; I hope it may please the reader as well as it did me. As it is, however, more likely to tell to advantage after Colonel B —’s grave account of Antigua, I shall give the Colonel’s letter the first place in these Memoirs. * The doctor relates this anecdote as “original,” and it is only in the conviction of this fact, that I am induced to insert it.

There have been, however, so many anecdotes narrated of Lord Byron, that the above might have been published among others without my knowledge, and if that should prove the case, the reader will, I hope, forgive an unintentional mistake.

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ANTIGUA.

Letter of Colonel B

—.

“ DEAR BAYLEY,

“ Now that I am fairly settled in Antigua, and have “ had a little time to look about me, I take up my “ pen to keep my promise of writing to you, and I “ hope to be able to give you a pretty concise de“ scription of the place. I have been more pleased “ with this island than I expected to be, and am half “ inclined to think I shall like it better than Bar“ bados. St. Johns, which is the capital, is a very “ pretty town; and the streets, which are wide and “ regular, have a neat and cleanly appearance; they “ are paved with sharp stones, and are not generally “ level, as the town is on the declivity of a hill which “slopes towards the sea on the western side of the “ island. The houses are, generally speaking, cool “ and well built, but they are probably inferior to the “ great houses of the plantations, which are comfort“ able and capacious, and possess more advantages “ than those of any other island I have visited. I “ went the other day to see a friend on an estate a “ little way in the country, and found him in the “ most delightful residence imaginable. His house “ was perfectly English, and stood in the midst of a “ green lawn that seemed as smooth as velvet, a “ thing I had not seen before in the West Indies ; the “ place was rendered a perfect bower, by the beautiX

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“ ful little shrubbery that grew around it, and the “ superb avenue of mountain cabbage trees that ex“ tended from its door to the road entrance. A “ pretty garden, close to the house, was to me another “ novelty; for I had never seen the flowers of these “ tropic isles, beautiful as they are, and rich in many “ colours, growing in any other than a wild and “ uncultivated state. Indeed, the great beauty of “ the whole scenery surrounding my friend’s resi“ dence reminded me of these lines : “ ‘ On the opposite hillock his cottage was seen “ Through the lofty green palm trees that fronted the door; “ And, oh, what charms that little cot wore, “ For nature had given the liveliest grace “ To the trees and the bowers that shaded the place; “ And made it a fitter abode for the race “ Of faries that haunted each woodland glen “ In the chivalric ages of ancient men/

“ “ “ “ “ “

“ “

“ “ “ “

“ If, however, I was pleased with my friend’s residence, I was not less so with the general aspect of the country. In coasting along the island, and in making English Harbour, for we did not come to St. Johns by sea, I thought the scenery, although certainly not equal to that of the Island of St. Vincent, superior to the flat country of Barbados, and even to the romantic wildness of the mountains of St. Lucia. Perhaps I was, in some degree, attracted by seeing the natural beauty of the place adorned, as it was, with English art, and by the busy scene that presented itself in English Harbour, reminding me, as it did, of the bustle of a British port. “ You are aware that Falmouth, as the place is

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“ called, and English Harbour, which contains a “ magnificent Carenage, and a splendid dock-yard, is “ situated in a part of the island nearly opposite to “ the capital. We were, therefore, obliged to pro“ ceed by land to St. Johns, and our ride across the “ country afforded us a fine view of all the varieties “ of Antigua; however, I must not carry you over “ the mountains without telling you something more “ of the Antigonian dock-yard. The people of this “ place still say Antigonian, though Mr. Coleridge “ says it should be Antiguan. By the way, Bayley, “ I hope you have read his book, it is very amusing, “ and gives a good account of what he saw here; “ he mentions a tombstone bearing the name of Row“ land Williams, the first white creole buried in the “ island. I have not seen it yet; but the descendant “ of that person, a gentleman of the same name, has “ an estate here. He arrived a little time back, and “ has lately married the daughter of our Governor, “ Sir Patrick Ross. But to return to English Har“ hour, the entrance is narrow, but the place itself “ is the most commodious receptacle for shipping in “ the West Indies. The dock-yard is neat, pretty, “ and convenient; and here they build little vessels, “ and repair large ones; so that the lively spirit of “ business and occupation always pervades the place. “ It is defended by strong fortifications on a chain “ of rocky eminences, called the ridge, and by the “ garrison at Monk’s Hill. These are salubrious, “ beautiful, and commanding posts; and while the “ British flag waves gracefully on the signal-staff, X2

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“ the pieces of cannon frowning from the stony “ ramparts, present at once a formidable barrier to “ an invading enemy, and form a desirable pro“ tection and defence for the surrounding country, “ and for the arsenal and dock-yard of English Har“ bour. In this place there are usually a number of “ ships, and a great many small vessels, that come “ for repairs : it has got the credit of being un“ healthy; but I do not think that the officers and “ sailors of the several vessels have been carried off “ by fevers and influenzas so much of late years as “ at a former period. They have dwellings on shore, “ which they prefer to ship-board; and here they “ appear to enjoy themselves, and live very happy. “ It is, however, a well known fact, that not only “ English Harbour, but the whole Island of Antigua “ was greatly subject to epidemic disease, from the “ want of water, which is very scarce. There is “ only one small spring in the island, and the ancient “ historians have not given it credit even for that “ one. The town’s-people trust, for their supplies, “ to their tanks and cisterns of rain water, which is “ very sweet and cool when passed through a drip“stone. “ The weather is very variable in Antigua, and “ the island is frequently attacked with a dry season, “ which, in olden time, reduced the people to great “ distress, and put them to a great expense in im“ porting water from other islands. Coke tells us “ that, in 1799, ‘ the ponds in which the cattle or “ stock of the plantations were watered became dry.

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“ The importation was altogether insufficient, and “ every part of the surface of the earth became “ parched up; the stock and the slaves perished in “ the utmost agony; and a most fatal and malignant “ fever, at the same time, every where prevailing, “ threatened total destruction to all. When these “ destructive attacks of dry weather are suddenly “ succeeded by a profusion of rain, which generally “ happens once in three or five years, a very fatal “ epidemic remittent is the consequence.’ “ Now, Bayley, you must follow me from English “ Harbour to the capital. In the progress of our “ journey I was delighted with the pretty scenery of “ the whole country, and found the hills more woody, “ and the valleys more green than I had expected in “ an island not watered by rivers. Our hills, for, “ when I think of the huge giants of St. Vincent, I “ cannot call them mountains, do not, like those, “ form a lofty pyramid in the centre of the isle, but, “ rising from the sea, and overhanging the coast, “ slope gently off, leaving the rich valleys and the “ verdant plains of the inner country only interrupted “ by the small and woody eminences, which add “ variety and beauty to that pleasing and cultivated “ scene. “ The prospects from some of these eminences are “ beautiful in the extreme. One of them, called “ Figtree Hill, is of surpassing loveliness, and, on a “ fair day, will command a distinct view of four of “ the neighbouring islands. These are Nevis, Mont-

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“ serrat, St. Kitts, and the French colony of Guada“ loupe. “ One of the prettiest objects that struck me on “ my arrival was the church, which is built on an “ eminence which overlooks the town and harbour, “ and from whence Fort James is visible, with sundry “ other picturesque and panoramic views. Now that “ I am settled, I frequent this church with much plea“ sure, and always get a good seat. The place is well “ attended, and there is a neatness, order, and cleanly “ appearance in the congregation that is not always “ observable even in England. All strangers who “ arrive here express their admiration of the external “ and internal appearance of the building, to which “ is attached a burying-ground of tolerable size, “ surrounded by a brick wall. “ The government house is also good, and the “ court house may be considered on a par with the “ church. I frequently attend the court sittings, “ and now and then hear good speeches from island “ barristers, in the prosecution of their several causes. “ Like the barristers of England, they always plead “ in their gowns. The court house contains spacious “ rooms, where the council and assembly debate. “ I was present at two or three of their discussions “ relative to their concessions to the free colored “ people, and heard them treat the subject in a “ tolerably fair manner. This class of people are “ meeting with their deserts here more than in several “ of the other islands; but they are nowhere so meri-

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“ toriously supported by the legislature as in the

“ Island of Grenada. “ There is a spacious methodist chapel in St. “ Johns, and it is always full in the time of worship. “ This sect is very numerous in Antigua, in conse“ quence of the island being their head quarters. “ We have, also, many members of the Moravian “ mission, some of whom are Germans, and, probably, “ descended from those who emigrated to the island “ in the early part of the eighteenth century, and “ met with so much encouragement from the pro“ prietors. Coke, the methodist missionary, who “wrote on the West Indies in 1811, says, when “speaking of the owners of estates in Antigua, “ ‘ That public spirit of religious indulgence and “ toleration, which gave both encouragement and “ protection to a body of German Protestants so “early as 1732, has entitled them to unfading ho“ nors.’ Upon the whole, religion appears to be “ gaining ground in Antigua, and the Bishop is “ making his exertions to render it every assistance “ in his power. There are several schools estab“ lished in the town under the different sects, and I “ dare say they will all produce good effects; for, “ in my opinion, the education must precede the “ emancipation of the negroes in the West Indies. “ The jail here is not much superior to the affair “ at Barbados, which you have seen; but it has the “ advantage of being separated from the court house. “ Of natural living curiosities we have not many; “ but Antigua is acknowledged by all to be the best

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island in the West Indies for a collection of petrifactions. I am endeavouring to procure some; and, if I succeed, I will send you a part of my stock. I can hardly give you an idea of the very fine specimens shown me by an old inhabitant of the place. I believe the best are procured in a curious cave somewhere in the vicinity of the ridge. “ I could tell you a great deal more about this island, and the state of its society, but must defer it to a future period, for you see I have filled two sheets of paper, very closely written, and have now only just space enough to sign myself “ Very sincerely yours, “ J. B —. ”

Reader, if the letter of Colonel B — was not amusing, it was, at least, instructive; and as it is always good policy to sacrifice the smaller to the greater good, I have no doubt but that you will agree with me, that moments spent in acquiring knowledge are, generally speaking, of more advantage than those which we devote to pleasure; and that one chaper of history is better than one volume of romance. There are, however, times when light reading is advisable, to relax the mind after the perusal of works which require a greater share of study and attention; and the gay epistle of Lieutenant L — will, therefore, come in very a propos after the quiet letter of the Colonel; and, if the reader

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gain less information, let him console himself with having more entertainment.

As, however, I am one of those persons who deem patience a virtue, I intend to postpone the production of the said epistle a little longer, and to give the reader a chapter, peculiarly my own, respecting the Islands of Anguilla, Barbuda, Nevis, and Montserrat, which belong to the two governments of Antigua and Kitts.

My little description of these places is drawn from notes and memoranda given me by many persons who were in the habit of going backwards and forwards between them and St. Vincent, while I was in that island; and who were, from personal observance, enabled to give me the most correct and authentic accounts.

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CHAPTER XXXVII. ANGUILLA — BARBUDA — NEVIS — AND MONTSERRAT.

“ Before we take leave of the British Leeward Islands, it is “ proper to give some account of the appendages to the large “ and flourishing colonies.” ‘ Coke.

ANGUILLA.

is the most northerly of the Charaibean Colonies of Great Britain ; and although so small and uncultivated, it had formerly a legislative body, who enacted laws, and fines, and punishments for the misdeeds of its inhabitants. A Governor also and a government house wherein to dwell; a provost-marshal to seize, but, alas ! no jail to confine the culprits; and a code of severe regulations, which were never attended to, because trouble is a disagreeable thing, and because those whose duty it was to put them into execution were fast asleep and dreaming. The little island is, however, now roused from its lethargy; and even as the worthy inhabitants of the counties of the land of Roast Beef and Plumpudding do send their representatives to the annual meeting of the London Parliament, so do the people of Anguilla dispatch theirs to the Assembly-house of the Island ANGUILLA

of St. Kitts.

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The situation of the place lies about sixty miles to the north west of this latter island, in the latitude of 18° north, and in the longitude of 64° west from London. Its breadth is about one-third of its length, which is near thirty English miles.

The scenery of Anguilla is quite original, and its formation differs from that of any other of the West India Islands. It is begirt by a thousand little rocky cliffs and eminences that rise from the sea, some barren, some woody, and some cultivated; and these sloping gradually off, leave the interior of the island, in many parts, as level as Barbados or Berbice.

There the whole aspect of the country is pleasing, because it is new—because there is a total absence of the natural and domestic scenery which distinguish the other colonies; and to an Englishman, because there are certain features in the view before him, that remind him of corresponding scenes in his native land. Instead of the busy bustle observable on a sugar plantation; instead of the working of mills, the driving of bullock carts, the cutting of canes, the boiling of sugars, and the columns of black smoke that rise from the works of the several estates, he beholds a number of pretty little dwellings scattered over the face of the country, “ few and “ far between ;” with negroes’ huts erected on the grassy lands, and the sheep and cattle grazing peacefully around them. Instead of long avenues of the lofty palm, and innumerable branches of the waving cocoa-nut; instead of extensive fields of the luxuriant cane, or large plantations of rising coffee-plants,

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he looks around upon a woody and fertile tract, with scarcely more than a third cultivated, yet that third forming a contrast, so striking and delightful, with the native wildness of the other lands, that he cannot help feeling pleased with the prospect:—green roads and greener pasture lands, fields that display the fairest crops of Indian corn, and extensive grounds for the cultivation of vegetables, but more particularly of yams, which in this island are of superior quality.

So much for the scenery of Anguilla:—for its domestic conveniences and internal necessaries, I can say little. It has been more backward than the other colonies in many essential points, from several causes: —Its little cultivation and want of importance, as to size, the poverty of its inhabitants; and, perhaps, more than all, the destruction of their town and estates, and the blasting of their better prospects by the French, in 1796.

Four hundred picked troops were sent by Victor Hughes, of savage and ferocious memory, with directions to burn the town, and exterminate the inhabitants of Anguilla, whom he knew to be defenceless and without the power of making resistance. They arrived in two French men of war and several smaller vessels, and having landed on the 26th of November, set fire to the town, and committed the most atrocious barbarities on the people. The inhabitants were, however, happily relieved by the arrival of Captain Barton, in the Lapwing man of war, who brought the French ships to action, and succeeded in taking one and sinking the other; he received for his very gal-

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lant and humane conduct throughout the affair, a very handsome letter of thanks from the inhabitants of St. Kitts.

The great damage and destruction done by the French ruffians, proved a terrible blow to the inhabitants of Anguilla. Their little church was pulled down, and was not re-erected, so that there was no place of worship in the island, except a small methodist chapel, not capable of containing a congregation of more than four hundred and twenty persons, and it is only since the arrival of the Bishop that they began to dream of building another church, and of opening something like a school for the education of children.

I suppose these, together with the court house and jail projected, are by this time completed.

There are not many curiosities in Anguilla, though Coke tells us that “ it is much infested with different “ species of serpents, on which account it is com“ monly called, by its neighbours, Snake Island,” an appellation which I never heard given to it during my residence in the West Indies, so that I suspect these animals are not so numerous, as in former days, in the cultivated parts of the island. In the more woody regions, I have no doubt of their numbers, as that species of bush which covers the uncultivated soil of Anguilla, appears peculiarly adapted as a receptacle for reptiles of all kinds.

The salt pond of the island is worthy of notice, as it frequently produces an immense quantity of very tine salt, which the inhabitants export for sale ; and they not unfrequently send as much as two hundred

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and eighty thousand bushels out of the colony.

Every one who chooses gets his share out of it ; for the lake is not individual property, but belongs to the community at large. The pond is not deep, and the salt collects and lodges in a body on the clay at the bottom, whence it is dug by those who seek it, and piled up on the little hills around under a thatch work, composed of the branches of some tree, the name of which I do not know.

Nothing else do I remember of Anguilla worthy the notice of my readers, so I will bring my narrative to an end, wishing it happiness, prosperity, and improvement ; all of which will, I am convinced, arise from the progress of education and religious knowledge in the colony. Let the planters sow the seeds of corn in the fields, and the parsons the seeds of knowledge among the negroes, and when the young ears and the young ideas begin to shoot at the same time, the two together will produce a crop more advantageous and prolific than was ever seen before gracing the plains and hillocks of the green Island of Anguilla. By that time I hope to have bid an eternal adieu to these Tropic isles, and to be quietly settled near one of the delightful lakes of fair Devonshire, in a neat cottage of my own building, with the ivy, and the vine, and the honeysuckle, creeping over its snow-white walls, and the fair lily and the blushing rose blossoming by its garden bower. There I may live for love and Laura, feasting on the joys that are present, and laughing at the woes that are past; but now, my beloved, I can only think of thee

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in absence: and I do think of thee, at the rising of the morning sun, and at the setting of the same glorious orb! but, above all, I think of thee at —— “ the hour when daylight dies, “ And sunbeams melt along the silent sea; “ For then sweet dreams of other days arise, “ And memory breathes her vesper sigh to thee. “ And as I watch the line of light that plays “ Along the smooth wave, tow’rd the burning west, “ I long to tread that golden path of rays, “ And think ’twould lead to some bright isle of rest.”

T. Moore.

BARBUDA.

is a very fine little island, about twenty miles long, and twelve broad, and situated some seven leagues to the north-east of St. Kitts, and about ten to the north of St. Johns in Antigua. It is comprised within the government of this latter island; and formerly belonged to General Codrington, who first held it by patent from the crown. It possesses a nice little harbour for shipping; but as it has no considerable trade, there are seldom many vessels in its roadstead.

In the scenery of Barbuda, there is nothing remarkable ; the country is perfectly level; and, except in cultivated parts, overgrown with thick bushes and high forest trees. There is also a remarkably fine piece of water, called the Lagoon, in which there are a number of fine fish; and these, together with the numerous herds of deer that live among the BARBUDA

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woods of the island, form a great part of the sustenance of its inhabitants.

To catch these animals and fish, there are two sets of fellows, distinguished both by dress and occupation from the other slaves of the colony, and bearing titles appropriate to their pursuits, being called huntsmen and fishermen. The fishermen employ themselves in the Lagoon, and catch immense numbers of the finny tribe in the various nets. Cavalles, king-fish, butter-fish, snappers, jacks, baracoutas, and even young sharks, are brought forth in abundance; and these, with the exception of the latter, are sent to supply the tables of all classes of inhabitants. Yet not on fish alone do the good people of Barbuda thrive and luxuriate ; not only on those who inhabit the vasty deep do they feast themselves and their visitors : think ye there are deer in their forests, and not venison at their board ? venison, say I, that would make the eyes of an alderman sparkle, and the lips of an alderman smack. The slaves, who hunt the deer, are well equipped for their duty ; which, by the way, is a very pleasant one. Like our farmers, they have their horses, and their dogs, and their guns; and they go to the chase in Blucher boots and leather caps; and wear besides, a broad belt, which they throw across their shoulders. The fellows employed in this, and the piscatorial profession beforementioned, are perhaps some of the happiest of their race; and, indeed, all the slaves of Barbuda appear contented in their way, and have a less barbarous manner than most of their brethren of the other islands. Their labour

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is also lighter; for the Barbudians make no sugar, and their chief occupation consists in the cultivation of provision grounds, and the raising of stock.

Here, as well as in Anguilla, the arrival of the Bishop has been the signal for the building of a church; and I dare say it will be, or perhaps is, for it may by this time be completed,) a very nice little affair. The Barbudians get up very pretty stoops and schooners, and I know no reason why they should not succeed as well in a place of worship. They have my good wishes in the matter, as well as in every other, that concerns their happiness and welfare: and now I will drink a farewell toast to their future success, for there is nothing like “ One bumper at parting, though many “ Have circled the board since we met.”

NEVIS.

The Island of NEVIS is of far greater importance than either of the two I have been just describing, and displays the most beautiful scenery imaginable. Its situation is in 17° 14' north latitude, and 62° 29' west longitude from Greenwich, and its appearance is perfectly singular and romantic. Fancy a mountain rising from the sea, and looking, according to Coke, “ like a conical pillar, emerging from with its summit the ocean to support the skies buried in the clouds, and from thence to its base covered with a mass of rich and variegated foliage; Y

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and you will have an idea of what Nevis was on its first discovery by Columbus.

The island is, however, greatly changed since that time; the mountain is still lofty and majestic; but the foliage that covered it has every where given place to an admirable and enchanting verdure and cultivation, except upon its highest point, where the old and sturdy trees of the ancient forest still spread their mighty branches to the mountain breeze, and show the contrast between the natural and cultivated state of this beautiful island.

Charlestown, which is the capital of Nevis, is a very nice little town in its way, built on the beach, and extending round the bay. It contains a pretty church, a good court-house, and a bad jail.

The first of these is in the midst of a piece of ground surrounded by a wall, and planted with a few trees; the second is a nice building, with appropriate accommodation, and fronted by a neat square; the third, but of this I had better say nothing, for if I do, “ bad will be the best ;� so I will turn to the Government House, a little above Charlestown, which I may praise for its convenient and pretty situation, without wounding my tender conscience.

Nevis possesses the advantage of a very plentiful supply of water, as there are a number of springs in the island; but there have been times when these, aided by torrents of rain, have overflowed their boundaries, and been the cause of much mischief on the estates, and more particularly on those pro-

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perties which are high up the mountain. They also greatly injured the roads, which are otherwise not bad. At all events, they are infinitely superior to any in the islands of Grenada, St. Vincent, or St. Lucie, and are all passable even in a carriage, though covered gigs are the vehicles most used in the country.

This island is famous for its spa, or mineral baths, and many of the colonists of the other islands go thither for the recovery of their health, by taking the waters, which are used medicinally, and possess qualities that do not yield the palm to the hotsprings of Cheltenham or Bath.

The spring is on a small eminence, about half a mile from the town, and there is a sort of tavern, or boarding house near, containing tolerable accommodations for visitors or invalids.

The Island of Nevis has suffered greatly from hurricanes, and was nearly destroyed by the very terrible one it experienced in the year 1707, from the effects of which it was not easily recovered by the persevering industry of its inhabitants for many years afterwards. It also bears the marks of having formerly been volcanic, and some have supposed that the mountain was burning at the time of its discovery ; and that in consequence of the smoke having a white appearance, Columbus gave it the name of Nevis, from nieves, the Spanish word for snow.

The island is divided into five parishes, and contains several places of worship, besides the church in Y 2

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Charlestown. Of its rarities of art, I am told that steam engines work on the estates ; and of its natural curiosities, that there are monkeys in its woods; moreover that the said monkeys have a predilection for robbing their brethren the men; and that the fruit is seldom left to ripen peaceably on the trees by these depredators.

And now, fair island, farewell !—for the future, may thy crops be as prolific, and thy fields as fertile, as they are at present; and may the deadly blast of the hurricane never more invade thy kindly shores.

MONTSERRAT. MONTSERRAT is another pretty little island under the Government of Berbuda ; though, as a colony, it is not considered rich; as an island, it is acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful and healthy of the Antilles. It has acquired the title of the Montpelier of the West Indies; and I never knew any one who had resided in it any length of time, without wishing to remain ; nay, I have heard many say that they would like to spend their latest days in it.

It is everywhere covered with hills; one loftier than the rest, rears its head above them; and from its resemblance to Montserrat in Catalonia, Christopher Columbus is said to have given that name to the island. It has also a volcanic mountain, which, like that in St. Vincent, is called Souffrière; and,

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indeed, all the volcanoes in the West Indies have the same nomenclature.

The chief town of Montserrat is called Plymouth, and contains a few good houses; also a church, which is not the only one in the island.

Montserrat is famous for its good turtle, good rum, and good fruit; its commercial productions are rum, sugar, and cotton; and its trade is by no means inconsiderable for so small a colony.

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CHAPTER XXXVIII. ST. CHRISTOPHER’S.

“ “ “ “

“ Upon the whole, it appears from those accounts which have the greatest claim to credit, because they partake, apparently, of the greatest impartiality, that St. Christopher’s was the original nursery of all the English and French Settlements in this part of the world.”

Coke.

Letter of Lieutenant S —.

DEAR BAYLEY,

St. Kitts, 1827.

You call on me to keep my promise; really I had forgotten it altogether, or I should have kept it before; but I am very apt to forget my promises, so you will excuse me I know.

The Duke of York brought me safe into port some three months ago; and ever since my arrival here, I have been fancying myself in heaven. I had no idea St. Kitts was such a delightful isle for a bachelor.

Such a charming receptacle of charming women— such a delectable dwelling place for the givers of good dinners and the lovers of good soup. You are an admirer of fine scenery, and a worshipper of fine girls; now I will describe the first before I make love to the last of these plentiful rarities.

The captain of the Duke of York, independent ot being a very good fellow, has a particular propensity for bringing his vessel to an anchor in the very best of

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all possible positions, for getting a good view of the place you are coming to. So on the day of my arrival, I saw to perfection all that was worth seeing from the harbour. A very fine valley, and a town therein erected; a long chain of mountains sloping one above another, from the aforementioned green valley in the south, to the black clouds, in which the most lofty concealed its ugly summit, in the west; a few minor hills, which seemed very verdant; and a number of mills which, like tipsy Jack, were four sheets in the wind, and went round and round like the world in a hurricane, or like the head of Field Marshal —, when he was first made prime minister. This latter simile has taught me an admirable reflection on ambition—you shall see it, although it is written by one who is, like yourself, a devilish bad poet :— “ Ambition prompting man to seek a name, “ The hero’s god, the warrior’s spur to fame, “ (And this reminds me of the spurs that goad “ The lazy horse that drags upon the road,) “ Patriots, poets, peers, and premiers, all “ Pursue ambition, till she works their fall. “ The first seek popularity and myrtle; “ The latter grasp at power and eat their turtle, “ Talk of distress, the poor man’s rags and tatters— “ Then smack their noble lips, and say—What matters ?”

But what has ambition to do with St. Kitts ! “ What is the name of that tremendous moun“ tain?” said I to the captain. “ Mount Misery,” was the reply, “ And the town and valley?” “ Basse “ Terre.” “And the yellow hill with the garrison ?”

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“ Brimstone Hill.” “ And the village at the point?’ “ Sandy Point.” “ And yonder eminence, with that “ pretty slope and cultivated aspect ?” “ Monkey “ Hill.” So I heard all this in silence, and then pointed to a very luxuriant cane-field, and said emphatically—“ What a field for poetry is there.”

A man on the top of Mount Misery would be in a most miserable predicament; the fact is, it overhangs a steep precipice; and people say it is three thousand seven hundred and twelve feet above the sea. For the first week I never looked at it without thinking if was going to fall; but I am now as used to it as the old woman’s eels were to being skinned alive. Nevertheless, I can tell you, if ever it should tumble, it will make considerably more noise than the fall of man from his duty, or of the ripe codlin, which discovered to old Newton the principles of gravitation, from the apple tree in the philosopher’s garden. The contrast between the barren state of this huge mountain, and the cultivation of the plains below, reminded me greatly of a very handsome and learned little friend of mind, who married a lady with a fortune, and corporation three times as large as his own, who is very stupid and very positive, and always says, “ I will,” and “ I wont;” of course she keeps her word, for you know the old adage, which says of woman— “ For if she will, she will, you may depend on’t ; “ And if she wont, she wont—so there’s an end on’t.”

Basse Terre is a delightful little town, full of nice

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houses, and nice inhabitants. The square is magnificent; but the church is not so pretty as the one at Trinidad. The methodist chapel is, however, superb, and always filled with a large and devout congregation ; the votaries of this pains-taking sect are very numerous in St. Kitts, and “ thereby hangs a tale,” which, for ought I know, may be more humorous than true, nevertheless it was given me as gospel. “ A master of a small schooner,” said the narrator, “ who was in the habit of trading to the island, pro“ fessed himself to be a methodist, and made a point “ of attending the chapel with the greatest appear“ ance of devotion. One day, on the eve of his “ departure, he expressed great anxiety for the sect, “ and earnestly entreated permission to be allowed to “ preach a sermon in the chapel that evening. Leave “ was granted by the minister; and, accordingly, as “ soon as the congregation had assembled, he entered “ the pulpit, and having girded his loins, took up his “ parable. He delivered extempore two-thirds of a “ very fine sermon that quite exceeded the expecta“ tion of the audience; but having arrived at a part “ where it became necessary to hint the contribution “ of a certain sum for charitable purposes, he found “ himself at a loss, and stopping dead short, ex“ claimed,—‘ O, by Jove ! you are all in h—1, and I “ advise ye to follow my example and get out of it as “ fast as you can.’ So saying he leaped over his “ pulpit, which was not very high, and made his “ exit from the chapel, leaving his hearers in the ut“ most wonder and astonishment.

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“ From thence he took his way to the beach— ‘ He leaped into his boat, ‘ As she lay upon the strand.’

“ and getting on board his little schooner, set sail for “ the green shores of some other island, and has “ never since dared to make his appearance here.”* We have here a fine garrison called Brimstone Hill, well fortified; also a good government-house and a good Governor, who dwells therein, yclept Colonel Maxwell, who by his mild administration makes well for the colony. After the Governor, the persons who, of course, hold the highest place in my estimation, are the ladies. Of these we have enough, and I beg their pardon, I was near saying, to spare, but that would be impossible. Hear fascinating creatures, how I adore them !—really you are a great deal too strict in your ideas of fidelity to one object; all that is very well after one is married, though we do now and then see an exception ; but to a young fellow scarcely out of his teens, and who has, moreover, the honor of fighting for his majesty, in a scarlet coat with a golden epaulette, to him, I say, more liberty may be allowed, or at least more love.

There is a pretty girl in England, called Fanny, to whom I write every month ; but is that any reason * Although this anecdote has been siuce related to me again, by another person, who attributes the prank to the captain of a mail-boat, who was by rank a lieutenant in the navy, I am hardly inclined to credit it; at all events, if it be true, the perpetrator of the prank deserves the highest censure.—Author.

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why there should not be another in St. Kitts to whom I may also occasionally say a tender word.

Are young officers only sent to this confounded hot country to do their duty, and be as cold as a stone ?

No, no; I am one of those who agree with the French maxim, that “ Quand on n’a pas ce que l'on “ aime, il faut aimer ce que l'on a ” — and I am continually singing Moore’s poetical version of the same sentiment : “ Oh! ’tis sweet to think that, where’er we rove, “ We are sure to find something blissful and dear; “ And that, when we’re far from the lips we love, “ We have but to make love to the lips we are near! “ The heart like a tendril accustom’d to cling, “ Let it grow where it will, cannot flourish alone, “ But will lean to the nearest and loveliest thing “ It can twine with itself, and make closely its own.”

Add to this the powerful attraction of the creole ladies, above all in the dance. La danse est quelque chose qui plait a tous sans les ennuyer. In the dance they enjoy themselves, and fascinate their partners at the same time. Perhaps you may tell me, in your laconic way, that this is killing two birds with one stone.

After the white fair ones, the brown dark ones do attract my notice, of whom there is a numerous and beautiful collection in this island. Their charms have persuaded one or two of my countrymen to join them in the holy state of wedlock; which they seem to have a great notion is the best patent lock ever invented, and by no means so easy to force as a mere liaison d’amour : there are others, however, who differ in opinion; but as I have never heard their argu-

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ments, I will not pretend to give le pourquoi et le parceque. Generally speaking, the colored inhabitants of St. Kitts possess greater privileges than those of the other islands, with only one exception, and I think this a credit to the colony.

The other day I took a fancy to a gig; and, having purchased and paid for it, by a bill on Greenwood and Cox, which, by the way, brings my finances to rather a low ebb, I may now be seen daily taking my jaunt into the country. I have been nearly all round the island, for the roads are excellent, and one may really travel with some pleasure. I saw a few more towns, villages, and churches, all pretty in their appearance, but met with nothing very uncommon.

The only curiosities of the island are a few large salt ponds, the aforementioned miserable Mount Misery, which has once been volcanic, and a very remarkable piece of ground among the mountains, fertile, productive, and a complete level. In this island, independent of the many luxuriant tropical fruits and vegetables, the inhabitants have been able, in some parts, to cultivate English productions, and these thrive more than anywhere in this curious mountain level.

I cannot stay to tell you any more, for the messdrums are beating, and you know what an aversion I have to procrastination, in temporal as well as in spiritual affairs. I can pardon a man for not being in at the death of a hare or pheasant; but I pity the poor fellow who does not arrive in time for the eating ; there is something very disagreeable in that.

Adieu, yours truly,

L—.

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CHAPTER XXXIX. MISCELLANIES.

“ When they have joined their pericranies, “ Out skips a book of miscellanies.”

Swift.

is now time to return to St. Vincent, from whence my readers have been led by the correspondence of my friends, and by my own description of the smaller islands attached to Antigua and St. Kitts. Yet the most interesting circumstances connected with this island have been already detailed, and it now only remains to me to mention one or two facts of minor importance.

St. Vincent is divided into five parishes, Charlotte parish, St. George’s, St. Andrew’s, St. Patrick’s, and St. David’s; and, independent of the sugar, rum, and molasses, which it exports, there are also small quantities of cotton, coffee, cocoa, arrowroot, and ginger shipped annually for the United Kingdom.

Besides the capital and Calliaqua there are other towns in the island. Layou, or Rutland town, Barrowaille, or Prince’s town, Chatteaubelair, or Richmond town, with one or two more better deserving the nomenclature of villages.

A table of the exact distance to the principal places of note in the island, from the market-place in Kingstown, though not interesting to the generality IT

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of readers, may prove useful to some who may have occasion to visit the island; therefore I will make no apology for inserting it.

DISTANCES OF THE HIGH ROADS IN THE ISLAND OF ST. VINCENT. WINDWARD, OR SOUTH AND EAST ROAD,

From the Market-Place, Kingstown,

Miles

1 To Greathead’s House 3 Calliaqua, or Tyrrel’s Bay Diamond Estate 7 Peruvian Vale 11 15 Union Estate House Byera River 21 Turn off at Brown’s Grand Sable 24 Rabacca River 25 God save the King 31 Owia Block House 37 Except the last eight miles, this is a good carriage road.

LEEWARD, OR WEST AND NORTH ROAD,

From the Market-House, in Kingstown,

Miles

2 To Lowman’s Turn in Ruthia, or York Valley, at the turn above 2¾ Camden Park Works 3¼ Questel’s House Turn on the north side, Buccament, or Queen’s Valley 6½ 7½ Layou, or Rutland Town 12 Barrowallie, or Prince’s Town 13¼ Walliaboo, or Man’s Bay 15¼ Belleisle House 17¼ Oushalabo, or Cumberland Bay 18¾ Trumaccaw, or Suffolk Bay 21 Chatteaubelair, or Richmond Town 23 Wallibow House 24 Morne Ronde There is no road or trace of one from Morne Ronde to Owia, the surface is much broken, the distance about sixteen miles.

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The island of St. Vincent deserves infinitely more than some others to be called the Montpelier of the Vest Indies, as it is, undoubtedly, one of the most healthy and beautiful islands in the whole cluster of the Antilles, containing few unwholesome marshes or ravines, and those chiefly on the leeward coast.

If its mountains be lofty and sublime, its valleys are verdant and cultivated ; and the pure streams by which it is watered flow unimpeded from the heights to the sea.

The principal events of its past history were the eruption of the volcano, the wars of the Charaibs, and the Insurrections of the Slaves; but it has not been troubled so much as some of the other islands with hurricanes or earthquakes.

However, during my residence there, I experienced two slight shocks of the latter, and one of a more powerful nature, though not sufficiently strong to do any damage in the island. It happened on the evening of the 30th of November, 1827, and was very generally felt. Being St. Andrew’s night, the militia band were playing Scotch national airs in the street; and, as they passed under the gallery of my house, I was awakened by the music. I had scarcely been two minutes awake before I felt my bed shake, and the whole building totter from its foundation. I heard, at the same time, a loud rumbling noise; and some glasses, which were on the sideboard in the hall, move from their positions, and rattle one against another with force sufficient to break two or three of them. I then knew it to be an earthquake; and the shock lasted during the space of fifty-nine seconds.

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In the government of St. Vincent a number of little islands are included, called the Grenadines; these lie in a cluster between the islands of St. Vincent and Grenada; and a part of Cariacou is all that belongs to the administration of the latter. The principal of the Grenadines are Becquia, Canouan, Cariacou, Mustique, and the Union Island, which contain about fifteen thousand seven hundred and eighty acres of land ; there are, also, Balliseau, Petit St. Vincent, and several other little rocks and islets in the cluster, some uninhabited, and others of no material importance.

Taking all in all, they produce small quantities of sugar, rum, cotton, and molasses. In the year 1824 the crops were as follows : Rum. 12,200 galls.

Sugar.

637,819 lbs.

Molasses.

30,998 galls.

Cotton.

163,478 lbs.

and the number of negroes on the last day of the year amounted to two thousand two hundred and sixty-six, being two hundred and twenty-two less than in the former year.

These islands have all a barren and rocky appearance, and their scenery is totally different from that of St. Vincent or Grenada. There are not many white inhabitants on any of them. Becquia and Cariacou contain more than the rest. I believe there is a church, with a clergyman and catechist on each of these two, but they have only been there since the arrival of the Bishop.

There is a considerable quantity of stock raised on some of these islands, particularly in Cariacou, where

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fowls, turkeys, and Guinea birds are bred in abundance, and carried over to supply the market of Grenada.

Sir Charles Brisbane was particularly fond of running over to these parts of his government, where he would sometimes remain during a fortnight or three weeks; for this purpose he had a very beautiful little topsail schooner, nicely fitted up, and with every accommodation for passengers. He used frequently to take over with him parties of ladies and gentlemen from St. Vincent to maroon.

The government of St. Vincent has been amongst the foremost in passing acts for the amelioration of the slaves; and the proprietors of estates have always diown a willingness to do any thing reasonable that might tend to increase the comforts, and better the condition of their negroes ; their grants to the people of color have not, however, been so liberal as those of the assembly of Grenada: but then it is to be remembered, that there is a great difference between that class of people in the two islands. Their regulations on the properties of which I have visited many have always pleased me, because they have undeceived and given me an idea very different from what I once entertained of the way in which such things are conducted.

In a preceding chapter I explained to my readers the process of sugar making; and I believe this is the only account I have yet given of the management of plantations, and of the various duties of negroes on the estates. A brief detail of the method of plantZ

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ing cane fields before the season of crop, of summoning the slaves to their daily work, and of the manner in which that work is carried on may not prove uninteresting.

Perhaps order and regularity are no where so well maintained, with little severity and much lenient kindness, as on the estate of a West Indian colonist.

Perhaps, too, there are few who give the proprietor any credit for so maintaining them, and continue to believe that a very rigorous, and in some cases a very inhuman, mode of treatment is adopted. I regret to say, that too many works have been published that might tend to confirm such a belief, works whose authors have been misleading the ideas of their countrymen, by describing, in forcible and energetic language, tending to awaken feelings of indignation, what the state of slavery unhappily was, but what it has long since ceased to be.

I have often wished that a statement of facts were brought forward to undeceive Englishmen on this subject; and I regret that the present volume is too small to allow of a full description of circumstances that might, in a great measure, tend to effect this.

Not that I would set myself up as a vindicator of slavery, God forbid! I have before stated myself to be its enemy; but I should like to point out that, although it has gradually improved, and is gradually improving, though paganism is giving way to religion, the frown of dissatisfaction to the smile of content, and the former feeling of misery to a consciousness of comparative happiness; yet that time

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must be allowed for the completion of the great work that is commenced, that a few more years must be suffered to roll away before the slaves can be taught to know and estimate the true value of that gem, liberty. To give them emancipation at that future period will be a justice and a charity—to give it them to-day will be adding fuel to a despoiling fire—will be pouring down destruction upon fair and fertile lands.

In every nation, and under all circumstances, where men, women, and children are required to labour together for the accomplishment of one undertaking, whether it be in the subterraneous cavities of a mine, or on the fair soil of a flourishing vineyard, the progress of the work depends greatly on the proper distribution and allotment of labour to each individual according to his strength. It would be useless to expect a child of twelve years to perform the duties of an athletic man of thirty.

The marked attention paid to this necessary precaution, in the West Indies, reflects the highest credit on the colonists. In the gangs of labouring negroes the strong are always separated from the weak; each has a task proportioned to his powers, and what he must do he can do with ease.

There are always three, and sometimes four gangs on a plantation; and I wall now describe the several duties allotted to each.

The most important and laborious work on a sugar estate, out of the season of crop, is the clearing and preparing, and afterwards planting the land. Before Z 2

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the cane fields are planted they are holed by the negroes, that is, the whole soil is turned up with the hoe, and holes, or rather trenches, hollowed out at marked distances for the reception of the canes.

This duty is given to the strongest gang, generally composed of healthy and athletic persons; and the field is planted in the following manner.

The negroes being collected together at sunrise, by the ringing of the estate bell, are drawn up in a line, a man and woman alternately, and in this order commence hoeing up the first trench. When this is completed they move backward to the second, and continue this retrograde movement until they arrive at the bottom of the piece of land to be cultivated.

In the course of their labor they do not, however, preserve the order in which they begin, but proceed according to the strength of their several constitutions ; and it is by no means uncommon to see two or three very strong negroes out of the line, and hoeing much farther down their rows than their less athletic brethren. During the day they have a reasonable length of time allotted for their meals, and at sunset their work closes.

The slaves labour under the direction of a driver, or head man, who is, generally speaking, a trustworthy kind of personage, well stricken in years, though not too old for his duty. He is commonly appointed to his situation on account of his known good conduct and tried fidelity. His badge of office is a whip, which he carries more for show than for use. This show versus use is one of the ameliora-

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tions of slavery; and I am happy in being able to state that the system of permitting the drivers to abuse their authority, by unmercifully flogging their gangs from private pique or resentment, which was followed many years back, is now entirely done away with. Drivers dare not strike their slaves without there is really a good cause for so doing; and if they were detected in the slightest injustice towards the negroes, immediate punishment and dismissal from their office would follow.

A personal observance, however, of the conduct of these head men, as they are called by the negroes, has convinced me that, generally speaking, their restrictions are in accordance with their inclinations, and that they do not wish to abuse their authority by an unnecessary severity towards those under their charge. For the most part they have been prudently chosen by their proprietors, and are, I think, more respected than feared by the slaves.

The overseer is always present in the morning, when the negroes are collected, and their names called over to see that there are no deserters; and he visits the several gangs from time to time, during the day, only leaving one to repair to another, or to attend to some duty on the estate, so that the negroes have always opportunities of making any complaints of their drivers if they feel aggrieved, and they are sure to meet with redress.

I have before said that the clearing and holing is the most laborious work on a sugar estate, out of crop time, nevertheless it is a light and easy occupa-

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tion when compared with the labours of a day gardener in England. The soil of the cane fields is soft, and easily turned ; the fatigue of hoeing is also considerably less than that of digging; and it might astonish some of those who picture to their minds the labor of field negroes as something superlatively dreadful, to see the gaiety that prevails among the gang while pursuing their daily occupation. They would not see them execute their work with the affecting resignation of broken spirits, with the tears of sorrow falling from their cheeks, or the sighs of affliction heaving from their bosoms—they would see them laughing and talking, sometimes with their driver, and sometimes among themselves, passing their ready jokes on the characters and customs of the buckras ; and, while they gave vent to a thousand lively and joyous sallies, pursuing their work in an easy and careless manner that would remind the beholder considerably more of indulgence than of oppression.

The same negroes who compose this gang are generally employed in crop time in the boiling-houses and about the mills, and form rather more than one third of the whole body of slaves of the estate.

The second gang have a lighter occupation than the first, and not being composed of strong negroes have easy duties allotted to them, such as weeding the cane fields, stripping off dry leaves, gathering up trash, and so forth. They are chiefly pregnant females, and children of from twelve to fifteen years of age. The minor children compose the third gang,

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and, for the little labor they perform, are not, it may be supposed, at their tender age of much service to the estate. To keep them from habits of idleness they are, however, placed under the charge of an old woman, and set to weed the garden of the proprietor, or gather green herbage for the goats and pigs.

These are the three principal working gangs; the other slaves are tradesmen or mechanics, and these, with a few sick in the hospital, and the aforementioned collection of infant failings under the superintendence of the old dame in the nursery, complete the muster-roll of negroes on a sugar plantation.